At Good Food Guide, they love a pub - whether it's a fancy gastronomic destination or a settles-and-sawdust place that serves the perfect pie. Here are a few picked out from the Sawday's collection by Good Food Guide editor Chloë Hamilton, each chosen for their sourcing, their community spirit and their dedication to great cooking.
Sculthorpe Mill, Norfolk
Head Chef Dominic Aslett shows off his passion for food and scrupulous sourcing in this lovely country pub. The asparagus and the beef are from farms round the corner, ales and spirits are made a few miles away and the venison is shot by one of their regulars! Sensibly, they cater to all appetites and occasions, with the restaurant menu carrying innovative touches like Cromer crab mash, while the bar menu is full of solid classics done perfectly. It’s the sort of place you can drop into on a hiking stop or make a destination for a special occasion and come away equally happy.
The Black Bull, Cumbria
Taking the idea of different offerings to a delightful extreme, Nina Matsunaga at The Black Bull oversees everything from the bar snacks and the Sunday roast to the exquisite tasting menu on offer in the pub’s restaurant, Tsuchi (earth or soil, in Japanese). Everywhere, she creates a beautiful fusion of her Japanese heritage, her German upbringing and her love of the area’s fine produce, with dishes like lobster & nori seaweed raviolo, Howgill Herdwick lamb & kimchi tartar or hand-dived Isle of Mull scallops with kohlrabi & gooseberry.
The Cat, Sussex
The Cat is a great place for when you don’t feel too fancy but still want something special – the kind of place where you keep coming back to the pie when you’re looking at the menu, because while they’re so often a let down, you know it’ll be fantastic. That’s not to say there aren’t interesting choices if you want them, but the team’s focus is on provenance and cooking, not reinventing the wheel. As a freehouse, they stock a great range of local ales and have a well-chosen wine list, including some from Bluebell Vineyard just down the road.
The Farmers Arms, Devon
The Collective at Woolsery, who own The Farmers Arms, are a group who have transformed a little Devon hamlet. They’ve brought back a post office, run a fish & chip shop, a local grocer, a farm and, most importantly, a pub which brings together the food knowledge and production of the whole team. There are two menus, the regular pub one and a Birch Farm Tasting Menu both only available seasonally and on certain days of the week, so it’s worth checking what’s running. You can also book private dining in The Potting Shed, their small events space that was indeed converted from a gardener’s workshop.
The Gurnard’s Head, Cornwall
With a short, fresh seasonal menu a few steps from the coastal path, this is one of the finest places in Cornwall to enjoy good food. Lunch can be tailored to the hikers soon to start back to St Ives or those with rooms booked upstairs, a very simpler menu runs constantly from 12 noon to 8pm and supper’s menu is set up for sharing, with dishes arriving when they’re ready. The food has won awards and commendations from a whole host of notables, but if you just want to have a drink in the garden and then stroll down to the nearest cove for a swim, you’ll be more than welcome.
The Greyhound Inn, Oxfordshire
The Greyhound has been a Good Food Guide choice for a while now and is likely to remain one. The menu is unpretentious and relies on superb cooking and fine ingredients, while the bar is the sort of light, warm room that makes you want to settle in for an afternoon. It’s a proper village local too, serving as a community hub for all sorts of activities, which gives it a welcoming atmosphere and a lively bustle, as regulars mix with hikers who’ve come to walk up and see the nearby White Horse.
The Howard Arms, Warwickshire
A real year-rounder, with big armchairs by the even bigger fireplaces making it cosy in winter, while the large garden is a superb summer spot for a cold pint. Head Chef Adam Pieprzak sprinkles some surprises on the otherwise traditional menu and there’s a real love of dessert from the kitchen team, so leave a little room, even when you’re tempted to gorge on the homemade bread. If you over indulge, the Cotswolds is right on the doorstep for a stroll to work it all off, although you’d need to do a few miles to shift the sticky toffee pudding and clotted cream.
The Merry Harriers, Surrey
A cosy, friendly pub overhung with the original oak beams from its construction some time in the 16th century. It’s been welcoming guests ever since, but its highly unlikely that the food has ever been better. The team from nearby Hilltop Kitchen took over in 2023 and now use their own farm to produce much of the menu, which features refined takes on some old favourites alongside tempting sharing platters. The well-considered cocktail list is worth a browse, as is the wine list, but there’s Hog’s Back on tap and we wouldn’t blame you for not looking any further than that.
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Chloë Hamilton
Chloë Hamilton is the Head of Reviews & Listings at Good Food Guide.
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