'Comfortable, with good food, welcoming staff, in a lovely, unspoilt area. Good value.' In a historic coastal village, Sherri Singleton and her husband, David McKay, run this restaurant-with-rooms in a yellow-painted old inn. She and Chris Pritchard have a Michelin Bib Gourmand for their cooking, specialising in local seafood. 'Rock oysters the best we have had. There was a real buzz about the restaurant, busy on both nights.' They were also voted 'best steak joint in the UK' by The Times. Their vegetarian options (perhaps aubergine rollatini) are praised: 'Such a change from the standard vegetable lasagne or stir fry.' The 'uncluttered' bedrooms are decorated in taupe and cream; beds are large, there is 'plenty of cupboard space', organic tea and coffee. All bathrooms have a double-ended bath and a shower. Wi-Fi Internet access is available throughout. For breakfast ('good, and freshly cooked'), you can have a Bloody Mary with pepper vodka; a continental selection; smoked kipper; Lowestoft haddock with poached egg; full English. There is a small sitting area for residents. Sherri Singleton runs cookery workshops and owns an Italian restaurant, Lucca Enoteca, in nearby Manningtree. (Sara Price, Jeanette Bloor, GM)