The Wellington Arms

Lost down a maze of lanes in peaceful countryside between Basingstoke and Newbury, the remodelled 'Welly', formerly a hunting lodge for the Duke of Wellington, draws discerning diners from miles around due to the combined efforts of Jason King and Simon Page, who have worked wonders with the place since taking over in 2006. Jason's daily chalkboard menus offer plenty of interest and imagination and much of the produce is organic and sourced within a five-mile radius of the pub, with salad leaves and vegetables from the pub's own polytunnel and three raised vegetable beds, eggs from their 100 rare breed and rescue hens, plus five Jacob sheep, four Tamworth pigs and three beehives. This translates to gazpacho of home-grown tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers, home-reared rack of pork with apple sauce, and chocolate and walnut brownie with raspberry ripple ice cream. Book ahead or arrive early as there are only 8 tables in the tastefully decorated single bar-cum-dining room.