The Ship Inn

With its own beach cricket team, Rachel and Graham Bucknall’s white-and-blue friendly gastropub on a no-through road to the sailing club overlooks a sandy bay on the Firth of Forth. When the tide stops play, you might eat fish and chips or a barbecued burger on the sea-view terrace, or have a drink by the fire in the dog-friendly bar. The Captain rooms are styled in colours of sky, sea and surf, with white shutters framing glorious sunsets. A ground-floor, street-facing Sea Dog room was ‘simple but all we would want for a comfortable stay – warmth, quiet and a huge, cosy bed’, a coffee machine and good Scottish toiletries. Best is the top-floor Admiral room, with a slipper bath and walk-in shower, and a seat in the bay window from which to admire the vista. In the restaurant, with wooden floors and furniture, Mat Majer’s menus of Scottish produce include dishes such as lamb rump and braised shoulder with lyonnaise potatoes or tagliatelle, mushroom and hazelnut ragù. ‘We loved the atmosphere and welcome and will certainly go back.’ (See also sister property The Bridge Inn at Ratho, Shortlist.)