The Royal Oak

With a free jukebox, Art Deco piano, loyalty cards and children’s menus, this dog-friendly 18th-century inn is truly a community hub. It's quirky, too: the bar is made from recycled church panelling and in the summer, a silver Airstream trailer dispenses garden food. The bedrooms, in a separate, ‘beautifully restored’ building, have a stripped-down chic, a walk-in or over-bath rain shower, and Bramley toiletries. ‘We had a good-sized ground-floor room,’ writes one reader after a return visit. ‘If it was raining, a quick dash of a few steps would see you in the pub' with its beamed, wood-floored dining room. Here, Greek chef Stergios Pikos’s short menus change seasonally and include such dishes as chickpea pancakes with lentil dhal, ‘an expertly cooked steak', and sea bass. The last Monday of the month is meat-free. ‘The vegetarian meal was delicious, and the strawberry patbingsu [a Korean dessert] was a highlight. A bargain at £16 per head.’ The ‘cheerful young staff’ promote a happy atmosphere. At breakfast there are pastries from the local Hobbs House Bakery, and ‘eggs Benedict were enjoyed’. (David Birnie)