Kings Head

Country pub in idyllic riverside spot; decent range of beers, pubby food

This cheery stone-built 16th-c inn is in a wonderful spot with picnic-sets among willows and aspens on grass leading down to the River Nene – you can even arrive by boat and moor here. Inside, there's an uncluttered simplicity (maybe too much so for some) to the very welcoming partly stripped-stone main bar, which has pleasant old worn quarry-tiles, solid pale pine furniture with a couple of cushioned wall seats, and a leather-upholstered chair by the woodburning stove in the fine inglenook. The bare-boarded public bar has similar furnishings and another fire; steps lead up to a games room with darts, dominoes and table skittles, and there's more of the pale pine furniture in an attractive little beamed dining room. As well as either Digfield Barnwell or Digfield Kings Head they keep a guest or two, maybe from Grainstore or Ruddles, and a dozen wines by the glass.

As well as lunchtime sandwiches and panini, pubby bar food might include mediterranean soup, garlic mushrooms on toasted brioche, greek salad, lasagne, battered haddock, sausage and mash, rump steak, bread and butter pudding and eton mess.