The Old Vicarage

In a 'splendid situation' in rural Shropshire, this gabled, red brick Edwardian former parsonage has a manicured lawn, and statues and seats around old elms. The owners, Sarah and David Blakstad, say they aim for a 'relaxed style'; Janet Whalley is the manager. The dress code in the light Orangery restaurant is smart casual (no jeans). The chef, Simon Diprose, serves a seasonally-changing menu of British dishes, eg, buttered asparagus with Parma ham; roast saddle of English lamb, carrot and rosemary purée. There is a decanter of sherry, fresh fruit, milk in a jug in the bedrooms, which vary in size. Most have antique furniture; some have a four-poster or a half-tester bed. Rooms in the coach house have a private garden; one is equipped for the disabled. There is fresh fruit at breakfast; cooked dishes include 'very good' sausages. The Blakstads, parents themselves, write: 'While we have limited facilities for children, we actively encourage them to stay.' (AL, and others)