Plumber Manor

In the same family since it was built in the early 17th century, this manor house in Thomas Hardy’s ‘vale of little dairies’ has a timeless appeal – but change has been afoot. Bedrooms, in the main house and a converted barn, have been updated, as avocado bathrooms fade from memory, and some now have a bath and super walk-in shower. Not that loyal fans should fear: the look remains traditional, the welcome warm as ever, from Alison and Richard Prideaux-Brune and their Labradors, with the ambience of a much-loved home. Interiors are furnished with antiques, the gallery is still hung with ancestral portraits. Richard’s brother Brian continues to cook alongside head chef Louis Haskell, serving traditional British fare. At night Richard tours the dining rooms, making sure that diners – including ‘lots of locals’ – are enjoying their wild mushroom millefeuille, lemon and rosemary chicken, or brill with orange and chives, from a short but varied menu. ‘Wine very reasonably priced,’ writes a reader. The waiting staff are ‘lovely and very efficient’. In all, a ‘very pretty house, nice gardens, lovely planting’.