Morston Hall

‘The surroundings are idyllic and the food is perfect’ at Tracy and Galton Blackiston’s ‘great’ restaurant-with-rooms, say regular Guide readers this year. The 17th-century country house stands in well-tended gardens in a coastal village; inside, expect a ‘friendly’ welcome from the hosts and staff members – ‘exceptional, sunshiny people’. The ‘superb’, ‘well-paced’ seven-course dinner is the main attraction, with Galton Blackiston’s ‘excellent’, inventive dishes changing according to the season. ‘The Michelin star is well earned, but it would be nice to have a lighter option than the full menu.’ Stay over in well-equipped bedrooms in the main house and in a pavilion in the grounds. ‘Our spacious room in the main building had all the amenities one expects, including a capsule coffee machine; there were soft, fluffy towels in the well-heated bathroom.’ Come morning, a ‘very good’ breakfast is served at table: grapefruit slices, muesli, a choice of egg dishes. ‘I don’t normally have a cooked breakfast, but the fried eggs and bacon were so delicious, I couldn’t resist.’ ‘So good we’ve booked to return.’ (Yvonne and Eric Kirk, Shirley Johns, Wolfgang Stroebe)