‘The valley in which this inn sits seems to me one of the loveliest places on earth; from the back of the inn, the views of fells, river and parkland landscape are just about perfect. And the stillness at night is magical.’

Mark and Claire Smith’s South Shore B&B is within easy reach of the promenade in this popular seaside resort.

‘Wonderful moorland views’ surround Sally and Simon Tait’s ‘well-appointed’, ‘very affordable’ B&B, on a former cheese-making farm on the edge of the Forest of Bowland.

On the banks of the River Wyre, Julie and Patrick Beaumé’s refurbished 17th-century coaching inn surprises with its voguish bedrooms and imaginative, French-inflected cooking.

In the rural Ribble valley, this extended Victorian manor house has basked in Michelin stardom under chef/co-owner Nigel Haworth for more than 20 years.

‘A lively spot’, this ‘friendly’ stone-built pub-with-rooms (Thwaites Inns of Character) sits in a rural village in the Ribble valley.

Andy Baker’s modern B&B on the Fylde coast stands within walking distance of shops, restaurants and the sea.

Minutes from Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, this modern hotel is owned by Janet and Graham Oxley and Claire and Mark Smith.

James Gray, a former TV set dresser, wins praise for the ‘high standards and superb attention to detail’ at his stylish, modern B&B, in a Georgian mansion down the road from Williamson Park.

The ‘enthusiastic, helpful staff’ stand out at the Topping family’s hotel, the one-time country abode of a cotton mill owner.

‘Clearly popular’, Philip Whiteman’s 18th-century coaching inn, in a village 30 minutes’ drive from Manchester, attracts locals and visitors who crowd the ‘friendly’ bar and restaurant.