Kings Head

Gently civilised Tudor pub with nice old interior, pubby and imaginative food, and pleasant garden

This creeper swathed pub, in the middle of a very pretty village, is on good form at the moment. The beautifully kept bar on the right is charmingly old, with flagstones, low beams, and old-fashioned settles around its massive inglenook log fireplace. A chatty quarry-tiled main room has attractive window seats and big country oak tables fireplace – it's all the perfect setting for a civilised meal out. A good range of drinks includes Greene King Abbot, M&B Brew XI and a guest such as Purity Pure Gold on handpump, several wines by the glass from a very decent list and local cider; piped jazz in the restaurant. A big chestnut tree graces the lovely garden, and the pub looks really pretty in summer with its colourful hanging baskets and wisteria.

As well as a pubby bar menu with dishes such as battered fish of the day, sausage and mash, lamb curry, pie of the week, burger and ploughman's, an elaborate menu might include king scallops, baked camembert with red onion chutney, duck, pear and rocket salad with star anise glaze, cod loin with crab linguine, parsley and chilli, mushroom and parmesan risotto and seared bass with chorizo and tapenade dressing, duck breast on thyme crushed potato with butternut purée and puddings such as bakewell tart with raspberry coulis and chocolate truffle cake.