Wide, tranquil views of salt marshes add to the relaxing atmosphere at the Nye family’s ‘first-rate’ Norfolk inn. ‘Cheerful, pleasingly confident’ staff, ‘modern, well-equipped’ rooms and ‘tasty, varied’ menus seal the deal.

‘A fantastic place to stay’, this ‘friendly, accommodating’ restaurant-with-rooms stands on the main street of a ‘lovely village’ of antique stores, art galleries and independent shops.

Chef/patron Chris Lee and his wife, Hayley, have returned to this ‘handsomely restored’ old coaching inn, this time as owners.

Artful surprises await around every corner at art dealer Ivor Braka’s sophisticated yet ‘relaxed’ pub-with-rooms: find Stubbs engravings above cracking fires, a Damien Hirst painting in the ladies’ loo.

Under the shade of a leafy horse chestnut tree stands this pretty, thatch-roofed country inn.

Here is Tom Pearce’s old grey mare crossed with Arkle – a Victorian taproom given the ‘terrific’ thoroughbred treatment by Philip Turner’s Chestnut Inns.