This family and dog-friendly pub in the East Hants village of Arford hits all the right notes for a traditional British pub. Cosy interiors, friendly staff, community atmosphere and peaceful rural location (complete with pub garden, naturally).

Head chef-proprietor Adriano Elam has top hospitality credentials. Previously, he has worked at The Savoy, The Ritz, at Postrios, San Francisco and other top international restaurants and hotels in Singapore, Bermuda, the Middle East and Malaysia.

The menu is small but perfectly formed and changes frequently. Expect to find dishes like Hampshire lamb cutlets with dauphinoise potato, aubergine timbale and Brazilian fish stew. There’s also a more traditional Sunday lunch offering, with starters, mains and desserts, or a light bar menu serving everything from cheese boards and mezze platters to house black pudding sausage rolls. Table for two?