A stone footbridge leads across a rushing stream to the Wild family’s traditional hotel, its front garden, in warm weather, dotted with tables for afternoon tea in the sunshine. In a ‘lovely location’ in a pretty village of thatched cottages near Chichester harbour, this ‘friendly, relaxing’ place has a ‘nice, cosy atmosphere’ that attracts many return guests. ‘The combination of good food, comfy rooms and fabulous walks by the bay is impressive. And the long-standing staff always extend an enthusiastic welcome,’ says a Guide reader in 2017. The building grew from three 17th-century workmen’s cottages; individually styled bedrooms vary in size. Ask for one of the refurbished rooms: many look on to the gardens, or have patio doors opening on to the lawn. Smaller or more spacious, each room is supplied with biscuits, bathrobes, and fresh milk in the fridge. Snacks and casual meals (perhaps duck rillettes; an ‘enjoyable’ sea bream) are taken in Marwick’s brasserie; in the restaurant, Neil Hiskey’s modern dishes might include beef fillet, wild mushroom gratin, shallot purée, bone marrow. ‘The cooked breakfast is a treat.’ (Ian Marshall, Michael Gwinnell, Diana Goodey, Alec Frank)