Twenty years after Edmund Inkin bought the first of the three dining pubs he owns with brother Charles, the formula is still a winner. Shabby chic decor, delicious food, an inclusive ambience, sustainability, support for the community, perfectly judged simplicity.

‘In a lovely location’, Sarah Hudson’s restored coaching inn on the banks of the River Monnow continues to delight readers.

A lively gathering spot for locals, this ‘lovely’, unpretentious pub close to Offa’s Dyke Path makes an ideal base for the area’s many walks and bike trails.