The Wheatsheaf

Roxa, the landlady, made me feel very welcome, and she’s a good cook too. I asked for an English breakfast at 8:30 and it was freshly made and MASSIVE. I’m not great with IT, but I hope the photo shows the plate. The five slices of toast are out of view. I chose The Wheatsheaf in Exning for a night’s stop with breakfast during a long, tiring drive. I was fed up with feeling ripped off by Premier Inn and Travelodges, and the location looked easy to find. It turned out to feel more like a home from home than just a pub. It’s a charming old place, full of character and friendly people. The old building’s history shows in its quirks. I like unusual staircases and the flowing walls shaped by a long-gone plasterer pressing lime plaster onto hazel laths, so it suited me down to the ground. The décor was clean and honest. My radiator looked its age but kept the room warm and snug. The double bed had soft pillows and a lovely warm duvet, and there was a wardrobe with coat hangers, an iron and a hair-dryer. I was glad to find a kettle, two mugs, tea, coffee and milk capsules. I hate the little time cups some hotels provide. The en-suite had a shower, toilet and basin. The basin was smaller than in most hotels but fine for washing and shaving, with a mirror placed just right. The lights were well positioned too, something bigger hotels sometimes get wrong. The pub shuts at 10 pm. I knew there might be noise from the pool table room below, but I ended up enjoying it while reading in bed. They played music I liked, including Queen, The Police and Gorillaz. It stopped after 10, and there was still some talking, probably outside, but it wasn’t a big deal. I slept well. This is a place for anyone who values substance over appearance. I wholeheartedly recommend The Wheatsheaf.