Olive Branch

This is a great place to make a weekend of it. Their bedrooms (just opposite in Beech House with delicious breakfasts) are lovely, the food is first class and the range of drinks exceptional. It can get pretty busy at peak times, so if you're not staying it's worth getting here early for a good peaceful table. The various small but charmingly attractive bars have a relaxed country cottage atmosphere, with dark joists and beams, rustic furniture, an interesting mix of pictures (some by local artists), candles on tables, and a cosy log fire in the stone inglenook fireplace. Many of the books dotted around were bought at antiques fairs by one of the partners and are sometimes for sale; piped music. A carefully chosen range of drinks includes Grainstore Olive Ale and a local guest beer on handpump, an enticing wine list (with a dozen by the glass), a fine choice of malt whiskies, armagnacs and cognacs, and quite a few different british and continental bottled beers. Outside, there are tables, chairs and big plant pots on a pretty little terrace, with more on the neat lawn, sheltered in the L of its two low buildings.