The Marquis

This red-brick pub has stood here for over 500 years and nowadays looks as good as ever thanks to its beautiful, no-expense-spared restoration. The stylish restaurant is divided into several rooms – and fans of wooden beams and open fireplaces won’t be disappointed. The kitchen team excel in making their simple yet skilled dishes uncomplicatedly delicious, like the pea and mint soup or the terrific boulangère potatoes, whose perfect crisping and flavour exemplify the virtues of the place. Stay overnight in one of the bedrooms and explore the area.

This superbly characterful restaurant on the riverbank belongs to the charming Talbooth House hotel; if you’re staying the night, you can be chauffeured over. Inside it has a stylish, rustic-chic design; most tables afford a river view. Cooking has classic roots but is given subtle modern touches.

A characterful yellow inn with an appealing shabby-chic style, located in a picturesque spot in the heart of Constable Country. The highly seasonal menu offers generous Mediterranean-inspired dishes and the well-chosen wine list offers plenty by the glass. Bedrooms are cosy – two have a modern New England style.

From the wooden beams to the antique furniture, there’s a huge amount of character to this spacious pub that sits inside four former cottages. The welcoming feel of the inglenook fireplace is matched by the warmth and pride of the service team as they serve a menu offering something for everyone, from a few pub classics to more inventive dishes. Great care in the cooking allows strong, complementary flavours to shine through, as in a lemon posset dessert with pistachio cream and a great bergamot gel. On a summer’s day, make sure you head straight for the terrace.

Tucked away in a city centre courtyard, this likeable restaurant occupies a Grade II-listed former barn, with stylish contemporary décor and an open kitchen allowing guests to get a good view of the chefs as they work. Well-crafted and eye-catching modern dishes populate the multi-course tasting menus, which have a seasonal British element running through them. Look out for dishes that put a modern spin on classic flavour combinations, such as lamb with mint, feta and broccoli. A friendly service team add to the experience.

Down a narrow city centre street, you'll find this attractive 18th-century building; a restaurant sits upstairs, while below is a trendy bar serving cocktails and light bites. The extensive menu ranges from bruschetta to quesadillas – plus a roast dinner on Sundays, of course – and the kitchen team ensure the dishes are as colourful and joyous as the décor and the atmosphere. The super-friendly, attentive service will really make you feel at home, as will bringing your own bottle on Wednesdays to take advantage of half-price corkage.

The bucolic village setting, lush gardens and well-kept exterior bode well as you approach this lovely village inn. Once you enter, its charming spell remains unbroken, with a friendly team and bags of character. The décor blends the modern and the traditional with aplomb, whilst maintaining a proper pub feel – you'll likely find a group of regulars and their dogs by the fire. The menu changes depending on the produce available, but you can expect gently modernised pub dishes, with steaks a feature of the menu, from sirloin to chateaubriand for two.