Vale House

You’ll find this friendly village pub with a bright, modern feel tucked away down a narrow country lane. When it comes to the cooking, things are hearteningly traditional, with eternal favourites like bangers and mash – along with daily specials – cooked with great care and using quality ingredients, resulting in straightforward, flavour-packed food. 'Pie night' – with weekly changing filling choices – and a proper Sunday roast add to the appeal, as do charming service and a prime view of the local cricket pitch.

After a change of ownership, this fine rural inn has got a spring back in its step, while preserving some of the best elements from its historic past. The carved Jacobean fireplace in the bar, for example, is still in situ – along with a more formal dining room and suntrap terrace. The cooking draws on hearty pub fare like ham hock and piccalilli; as an alternative to dessert, why not order the local stilton? There are only six dairies in the world licensed to make this cheese, and one of them is right here in Colston Basset – so it would be rude not to!