Castle

Particularly well run by a friendly young landlady and her cheerful staff, this is an imposing square-cut 18th-c stone building and a former toll house. There's a splendid and highly individual atmosphere and the bar, dominated by its long panelled mahogany serving counter, has a good log fire, restful lighting including church candles, anything from armchairs and chapel chairs to a heavy green leather settle on its polished dark flagstones, plenty of daily papers, and unobtrusive piped music; board games. Lightly ragged ochre walls have [I]Vanity Fair[I] cartoons above a high brown dado, and a couple of boarded-floor rooms on the right, with a rather darker décor, are similarly comfortable and relaxed. Glastonbury Lady of the Lake, Plain Ales Sheep Dip, Stonehenge Spire Ale and Three Castles Barbury Castle and their own-label Flatcappers beers (also from Three Castles) on handpump, proper farm cider, a fine blackboard range of wines by the glass and proper coffee (hot milk if you want). Beside a lawn, the front terrace has unusual long tables and benches - and sweeping views over the town. Our readers like staying here very much.