The Red Lion Freehouse

On the edge of Salisbury Plain not far from Stonehenge, this thatched 19th-century beer house is run as a friendly village local and Michelin-starred pub-with-rooms by chef/proprietors Guy and Brittany Manning. ‘It has real character,’ readers write. ‘We were welcomed by a friendly barman who recognised us from a previous visit.’ The food is the star here, with carefully sourced, home-grown and foraged ingredients in such dishes as Salisbury Plain venison with celeriac, cavallo nero, prunes and sauce poivrade; and roast Cornish cod with gyoza and pak choi. Pastry chef Brittany turns her hand to such delights as Yorkshire ‘rhubarb and custard’ tart with hazelnut crunch and Negroni sorbet. The boutique bedrooms don’t disappoint either. In a modern bungalow opposite, they have full-height glass doors on to decking beside the River Avon, a king-size bed, minibar and smart, modern bathroom. The largest has its own entrance, a leather sofa bed for an extra guest, a roll-top bath and rainfall shower. ‘We chatted to a couple who decided to stay on for a second night, they were so impressed.’ (Terence Bendixson, C and ES)