Dragon Orchard Retreat

Take in delightful views of the Malvern Hills from the charming terrace of this country inn, or cosy up inside the understated New England-esque dining room. There's certainly a degree of style to the place, in both the décor and the attractive presentation of the dishes, which thankfully taste as good as they look, incorporating plenty of punchy flavours like pickled enoki or a rich red wine jus. There's a generosity to the portion sizes, especially in the starters – check out the specials board for some of the best value dishes.

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.

A thick wooden door salvaged from an old ship leads you into this sweet rural inn where hop bines vie for space with the locals’ tankards on low exposed beams. The menu is short but packed full of top quality seasonal ingredients and honest flavours lead the way. The friendly team create a warm, friendly atmosphere, and they serve the ales straight from the keg.