Our elite, award-winning pubs with rooms

The Red Lion at East Chisenbury, Wiltshire

Set the satnav to find this 18th-century thatched pub hidden away in rolling downland on the edge of Salisbury Plain. It will be worth it. Peaceful East Chisenbury is a gorgeous village, set in the peaceful Avon Valley south of Pewsey, and the Red Lion is far more than a rustic rural local.

Chef-owners, Guy & Brittany Manning have transformed the pub into a culinary oasis deep in the Wiltshire countryside, their dedication, focus, and hard work being rewarded with a fabulous reputation for food. Everything is made in-house, from the lime cordial to the ketchup, and they have a passion for sourcing the best local ingredients (or growing/rearing their own). These dictate the ever-changing daily menus, which are sensibly short with dishes simply described – wild halibut with salty fingers and chive; Wiltshire chateaubriand with Jerusalem artichokes and chanterelles; vanilla rice pudding with poached Yorkshire rhubarb and sorbet.

Five beautiful bedrooms in a converted riverside bungalow are the icing on the cake. Arrive on a winter’s evening and wake to a quintessentially English scene: the crystal-clear infant River Avon winding through water meadows towards thatched cottages. Brittany’s freshly baked bread and pastries make breakfast a treat.

In a nutshell: 

• Thatched village gem in deepest Wiltshire 
• Proper pub – relaxed and welcoming 
• Culinary oasis – Michelin starred food 
• Chef-owners – passion for local food 
• Simple, rustic dishes, precisely cooked 
• Stunning rooms in riverside setting – special 

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The Killingworth Castle, Wootton, Oxfordshire

Fuelled with boundless energy and passion (and a Midas touch), Claire & Jim Alexander transformed the forlorn 17th-century Killingworth Castle into a thriving community pub with rooms just outside Woodstock. 

More than a decade on, the passion is undimmed. Diners travel from far and wide for chef Adam Brown’s inventive cooking and bold flavours, built around local, seasonal and organic ingredients. His carte and tasting menus brim with Cotswold goodness – chalk stream trout with beetroot and buttermilk; salt-aged duck breast with chicory and rhubarb; banana soufflé with stem ginger ice cream and toffee sauce.

The setting is rustic and unpretentious, with wooden floors, flickering candles and blazing stoves in cosy dining rooms. Eight stylish rooms in the converted stable provide the perfect place to retreat after exploring the excellent wine list. Recently named in Time Out’s Top 50 Best Gastropubs in the UK for 2026, this is a place that keeps raising the bar.  

In a nutshell 

• Community focused dining pub with rooms 
• Hands-on owners; passion & enthusiasm 
• Innovative cooking; big flavours, top ingredients 
• Rustic-smart interior 
• Rooms offer style and comfort 

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Angel Inn, Stoke-By-Nayland, Suffolk

Soft lamplight glows invitingly in the windows of this beautifully restored 16th-century inn deep in Constable country. Expect to be wowed – rare and valuable artwork adorns the walls, there’s a glass-topped well in the raftered restaurant and a lush, landscaped patio garden offers a lovely place for drinks. Bedrooms are just as impressive, named after Suffolk artists, rivers and landscapes, with beams, timber and heritage colours adding warmth and character.

The food is seriously good – modern British cooking with Spanish influences, a heady mix of quality ingredients from Suffolk and further afield, resulting in imaginative, big-flavoured dishes from Rueben Aguilar Bel, a talented chef who hails from Spain. 

The food is seriously good too. Chef Rueben Aguilar Bel brings Spanish flair to modern British cooking, using excellent ingredients from Suffolk and further afield. Menus might include roasted vegetables with Manchego foam and tomato crumble, charcoal-grilled Cornish bream with ceps and beluga lentils, and dark chocolate crémeux with banana bread and nutmeg sorbet.

Worth the short detour off the A12. 

In a nutshell 

• Money lavished on restoring fabric of building 
• Rare, valuable artwork adorn walls; special… 
• Talented Spanish chef; farm-to-table approach 
• Smart, individually designed rooms; wow factor

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The Cotley Inn, Somerset

Hidden down winding country lanes near Chard, this multi-award-winning village pub sits on the Cotley Estate and has a serious food ethos. Head chef Dan champions a true field-to-fork approach, sourcing beef and lamb directly from the estate while raising pigs and chickens and tending a thriving kitchen garden.

His cooking follows a nose-to-tail philosophy, ensuring every ingredient is used with care. The result is inventive seasonal menus alongside comforting pub favourites. Bedrooms occupy converted stables and are beautifully designed, with coffee machines, robes and fresh milk delivered in the morning. Some share a sunny terrace, while the largest features a mezzanine bed, freestanding tub and private courtyard.

The surrounding countryside is glorious walking territory, with Dorset close by and the Jurassic Coast just half an hour away.

In a nutshell

• Multi-award-winning village pub
• Estate-reared meats and kitchen-garden produce
• Inventive seasonal cooking
• Four stylish stable-yard bedrooms
• Excellent base for countryside walks

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The Pier House, Cornwall

Perched right on the historic quay in Charlestown, The Pier House combines sea views, excellent food and an enviable location beside the South West Coast Path. Run by St Austell Brewery – recently awarded Best Sustainable Pub Company and Best Managed Company at the 2026 Publican Awards – it’s a pub that gets the balance just right.

Downstairs is all cosy corners and lively bar chatter, with nooks for reading and a suntrap terrace perfect for watching boats bob about in the harbour. The restaurant champions the best local ingredients, from classic fish and chips and steaks to seasonal seafood specials and indulgent desserts.

Bedrooms upstairs are individually styled, some with dual-aspect views across the quay. Expect Nespresso machines, Roberts radios and snug dry robes for warming up after a bracing sea swim.

In a nutshell

• Quayside pub with spectacular sea views
• Part of award-winning St Austell Brewery
• Seasonal menus and superb local seafood
• Comfortable rooms with thoughtful touches
• Perfect base for Coast Path walks and beach days

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The Durham Ox, Yorkshire

Set in the charming hill-top village of Crayke in the Howardian Hills, this three-hundred-year-old pub is the quintessential English inn. Owned by the Ibbotson family for over 25 years, it’s a place where locals and visitors mingle happily over good food and proper Yorkshire hospitality.

Inside you’ll find flagstone floors, oak panelling and roaring fires in winter. The menu champions local produce with everything from seafood and steaks to hearty puddings and vegan dishes.

Rooms are scattered across converted stone cottages and buildings behind the pub, while the indulgent Pool Villa and Pool Cabin offer extra spoiling with private outdoor space and spa pools.

It’s also a great base for walkers, with beautiful countryside right on the doorstep and York just a short drive away.

In a nutshell

• Quintessential village inn in the Howardian Hills
• Family-run with a loyal following
• Excellent locally sourced food
• Cosy country-house-style rooms
• Perfect for walkers and dog-friendly stays

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