The Pear Tree at Purton

In 'lovely' gardens, on the edge of a Saxon village in the Vale of the White Horse, this Cotswold stone former vicarage is run as a country hotel (Pride of Britain) by owners Francis and Anne Young. 'They are outstanding hosts,' say inspectors in 2009. 'We were struck by the courtesy of all their staff.' In the bedrooms (each named after a village character), fresh flowers match the colour scheme. A four-poster room had 'bottled water, fruit, a decanter of sherry, but no tea/coffee-making; nice spa bath, fluffy towels, and robes'. Some rooms may feel 'a bit old-fashioned', and one visitor found lighting 'rather dim', but 'housekeeping was immaculate; beds turned down in the evening'. In the candlelit green-and-white restaurant, the modern cooking of Alan Postill is enjoyed: 'Excellent lamb and venison, good beef and duck' in dishes like pressed duck confit; rib-eye steak, garlic, shallot and Dijon sauce. The vegetarian dishes are also praised. 'The impressive wine list has house wines under £20.' Breakfast is 'a good start to the day: fresh juices, grapefruit segments, croissants, home-made jams, rounds of butter and good full English'. The Youngs say they are 'consciously green': 'We have a wild-flower meadow, a vineyard and a beehive.' All uncooked kitchen waste is processed by an accelerated composter. (IM, and others)