Every town should have an Old Bridge, a social hub with all-day bar and lounge menu, where a cream tea awaits overnight guests on arrival (‘very civilised', said our inspectors). That this hotel backs onto the Great Ouse, with ‘lovely grounds and different areas for eating and drinking’ is a big bonus. It is now part of the Chestnut group and, say trusted readers who know it of old, ‘the change in ownership has not affected the guest experience’ – though a plumbing problem necessitated switching rooms, and at breakfast, scrambled egg resembled ‘a sort of omelette gone wrong’. Bedrooms range from singles and small doubles to very spacious four-poster rooms with a river view, a huge ensuite with bath and walk-in shower. In ‘a very large, attractive dining area with one section under a glassed ceiling’, our inspectors enjoyed prawns with samphire; courgette flower stuffed with honey and goat cheese, zhoug grilled yellow courgettes and cumin and courgette fritter; chocolate ice cream and blueberry sorbet with fine meringue slices. ‘Excellent meal, perfectly cooked fish. Vibrant atmosphere in the busy restaurant,’ our trusty reader noted. (Bill Wood, Franz Kuhlmann, and others)