The Ship Inn

Rachel and Graham Bucknall run a happy ship indeed at this village pub-with-rooms on the beach, with view across the Firth of Forth. Guide inspectors, arriving on a wet November day, found the place buzzing, ‘but we were greeted warmly, checked in’ and shown to a dog-friendly ground-floor room with white-painted shutters and a bathroom with walk-in shower. ‘The bed was enormous, dressed in white linen with a simple woollen throw.’ Admiral room, with bath and shower, is large enough to take an extra bed, and has a window seat from which to watch the pub’s cricket team playing on the sands. All rooms have coastal style, nautical knick-knacks, an espresso machine and Siabann toiletries. Food is served in the bar, with its log fires, and in the upstairs restaurant. Chef Mat Majer’s menus champion local produce in such dishes as monkfish with chickpea, saffron and tomato stew, haddock and chips or, for vegans, spiced cauliflower with sweet potato, pickles, tahini dressing, pomegranate and mint. ‘The staff in the restaurant were delightful.’ The Bucknalls also have The Bridge Inn at Ratho (see Shortlist entry).