You couldn’t hope to wash up in a better spot, an idyllic village in gorgeous countryside with this lovely inn at its centre. Inside, you find an easy elegance. A panelled lounge comes with sofas, armchairs and open fires – a good spot for afternoon tea; the bar, made from a slab of local elm, is usually propped up by locals.
You eat in the beamed dining room. Breakfast is a real treat: the full cooked works, or a buffet table laden with pastries, cured meat, cheeses, yogurt, cereals, homemade jam, and lashings of excellent coffee. Book dinner while you’re here. If you come as a group the ‘feast’ menu has an exciting and inventive choice of sharing plates.
Hire boats, order a picnic from the inn, float down the sleepy Stour, then tie up on the bank for lunch on the grassy banks. Come back to bright and airy bedrooms: those at the back are bigger, but all are lovely with local art and village views.
This pub with rooms excels on the food front with a seasonal, locally sourced menu that changes every six weeks; from my oysters to my steak I was delighted with my meal and I was looked after very well by the young team running the place. Easy to park, easy to sleep and easy to walk the dog!