Our inspectors enjoyed their stay at Alex Morbey's honeyed-stone gastropub with thoughtfully designed rooms and excellent cooking in the busy restaurant.

A family and dog-friendly 18th-century inn with riverside gardens in the Vale of the White Horse, this is now part of Butcombe Boutique Hotels, which has refurbished the six bedrooms with botanical and Arts and Crafts wallpapers, king-size beds, vintage pieces and Bramley toiletries. Menus mix sharing plates, pub favourites and some more adventurous dishes.

Jeremy Mogford's conversion of the old Barclays Bank right in the city centre gets credit for its smartly furnished bedrooms, marble bathrooms, and an art-adorned all-day bistro, Quod, in the old banking hall, with Italian garden terrrace.

Part of the Daylesford Organic empire, this is a modern take on a traditional country inn – think open fires and lemon trees, craft ales and cocktails, pub classics and dishes with an Italian spin, and effortlessly stylish bedrooms.

Without and within, this dog-friendly, family-friendly, extended 19th-century pub, part of the Butcombe chain, is a mix of traditional and modern, with a relaxed vibe, varied menus and smart, unstuffy bedrooms.

Carefully renovated in keeping with its traditional character, this 16th-century coaching inn has 16 boutique bedrooms and suites blending original features with contemporary chic, while the pub menu specialises in burgers (including meat-free ones), and interesting small plates.

Modelled on Rome's Villa Borghese and overlooking Italianate gardens with lakes, fountains and statuary, this spa hotel has a hip vibe, bold interiors, lovely bedrooms, fabulous bathrooms, a buzzy cocktail bar, and French-inspired cooking in the panelled dining room.