‘Great rooms and food plus amazing value,' summarised a Guide inspector who visited this 16th-century gastropub in a delightful rural village on the River Itchen. It had fallen into disuse when it was acquired in 2022 by the Avington Park estate, a new leisure destination and wedding venue with trout fishery (‘stay in the pub and go fishing’, try axe-throwing, falconry, cycle, swim…). Refurbishment has breathed new life into the inn, a popular local and community hub. ‘Up the steep stairs are some of the best rooms in a pub I've ever seen.’ They are individually decorated, pet friendly, with original features, king-size bed, espresso machine and Wildsmith botanical toiletries. An all-day menu of small and large plates and pub classics, with plenty of choice for vegans, includes unusual dishes such as katsu aubergine, rice, cauliflower leaf kimchi; spiced Avington trout, crumpet, English wasabi, pickles. ‘The Chestnut burger is a winner, and the Avington trout en croute couldn't be fresher, fished just down the road.’ Dine inside or in the courtyard. There is deli fare for breakfast – croissants, toasties, sausage baps. The South Downs National Park awaits walkers.