There is star quality indeed at Olga and Alex Polizzi's updated version of a historic Tudor inn, in a charming medieval South Downs village. The third venture in the Polizzi Collection (see Hotel Endsleigh and Tresanton), combines beautifully designed rooms with innovative cooking and a large, atmospheric bar that 'still feels like a local, albeit one with a hotel attached'. 'Everything feels curated, not contrived,' writes a Guide insider. 'The attention to detail is astounding.' Interiors are classic Polizzi, mixing contemporary flair with antique shop finds, and nods to nature including lampshades with hand-painted birds, or door handles shaped like oak leaves. Dog-friendly ground-floor rooms in a 1960s wing, and those above with Juliet balcony (some overlooking the car park), have floor-to-ceiling windows. There is a Mediterranean-style courtyard, a library with secret door into the dining room with stencilled floor and wooden beams. Here, and in the bar, menus include 'the most delicious homemade pasta' and dishes such as peppered bavette steak with house fries and red wine sauce. After a 'slap-up breakfast', order a picnic for Glyndebourne, a walk on the South Downs way or a day on the beach at Birling Gap.