The Star Inn

With open fires in winter, the place has a friendly atmosphere, and the staff are always helpful and welcoming. We've eaten there regularly this year and have had an excellent meal every time. The Star was newly refurbished in 2018 and has a fantastic new chef, Lee. The menu is quality pub food, with a specials board that changes with the seasonal produce. All the meat is sourced locally.

It feels like a valued part of the community has been lost. Inside, the pub looks bare and has no character, despite having so much potential. On our visit, we parked in the pub car park for a short walk and planned to return for drinks. Instead, we found an unnecessary, passive-aggressive note on the windscreen warning us not to park there unless we were spending money at the pub. There are situations where that would make sense, but this wasn't one of them. It used to be a really nice place under Leslie & Co, with a welcoming atmosphere and an upmarket feel. Since the new owners took over, it seems more like an afterthought, catering to a few midweek customers while coming second to the owner's car recovery and second-hand business. The local cricket club is directly behind the pub, and its attendants are forced to park on the outskirts of the pitch. What a shame.

The beer's not bad either, but the food is the real draw. The homemade burgers have to be tasted to be believed, and the beef pie is the best I've ever had on a menu. Actually, it must be steak, it's that good. A friendly local.

The Star Inn is beautifully kept, and the staff were so helpful and lovely. I'd happily recommend it for a pint, a meal, or a place to stay.