The Dovecote Inn

I tried the turkey burger last week and it was delicious. The cheese crème brûlée starter was a new one for me, but I loved it too. It's a cosy, proper English countryside pub, with faultless service. I'll definitely be back.

The Dovecote's cosy feel really suited our group lunch. There are lots of soft furnishings, so it was easy to hear one another, and the staff were attentive and cheerful. The Roast Beef portions were generous and nicely presented, and everyone in our party of 14 enjoyed them. I understand the charming old rural pub has recently changed hands, and the new management has transformed the menu. Don't be put off by earlier reviews. I'm looking forward to returning and trying the accommodation next time.

The only mishap was the toaster setting off the smoke alarm. Otherwise, the breakfast provided for the room was pretty good, and the setup worked better than I expected. The rooms are comfortable, parking is good, and the food was excellent and well served. If you're stopping overnight mid-journey, just note that Sunday service ends a bit early.

The food, drinks and service were as faultless as usual, but the visit itself wasn't as good this time. We'd booked online and mentioned bringing our dog, but that had been missed. We were moved from our allocated table to a small side room where dogs were allowed. A large group of drinkers there were pleasant, but very loud, and their language got increasingly offensive. It wasn't the atmosphere we'd expected, so we escaped back to the bar as soon as we could to finish our drinks.