Wells Cottage

In finer weather, you must aim for a table on the terrace at this restaurant set within the famous The Cottage in the Wood hotel. Built – funnily enough – in 1919, it boasts one of the best panoramic views of the English countryside that you will find. The restaurant itself is a bright, stylish place serving both a tasting menu and an à la carte. A proudly British spirit shines through in the cooking, from the use of Exmoor caviar and Evesham asparagus to a butter sauce flavoured with English sparkling wine. The service is well-paced and the whole experience comes at a sensible price tag.

You'll find an abundance of homespun charm at this sweet, cosy restaurant run by a husband-and-wife team. Elizabeth warmly welcomes you into the 18th-century, Grade II listed building, while her husband James works alone in the kitchen. His concise menu is a masterclass in naturally delicious cooking that is free of frippery. Ingredients are sourced from trusted suppliers and delivered with excellent complementary flavours, be it Salcombe crab with punchy romesco or in-season deer with a deep, intensely flavoured faggot.