The Lord Nelson Inn

Originally constructed as a thatched cottage, later additions to this 300-year-old stone-built inn include 18th-century gables and a quaint verandah facing the village church. In Nelson's day the pub was simply known as the Admiral Nelson; but when, in 1797, the great man was elevated to the peerage, the pub's name was elevated too. For more than a century after that, villagers slaked their thirst here until, in 1905, the inn was closed following complaints about over-indulgent estate workers. That could have been the end of the story - but, a generation later, the building was bought by a couple who just liked the look of it. They gave it a complete makeover, and the Lord Nelson finally re-opened on Trafalgar Day, 1971. Now full of fresh flowers, candlelight and a splendid inglenook fireplace, it's just the place to relax after a country walk or a day at the office. And, during the summer, the pretty terraced garden with its weeping willow is popular for alfresco eating and drinking. All the food is freshly cooked, using local produce where possible. The house menu begins with a complimentary basket of bread and olives. Starters might include warm crispy shredded duck salad or mixed leaf salad with bacon, mushrooms and onion topped with melted English goat's cheese. For light main course options, try a wild mushroom risotto or roast vegetable tart. Other main courses include English fillet of pork wrapped in Parma ham with a mustard sauce, and veal escalope with lemon and sage butter. Look out for red kites while you're in the area; the RSPB reintroduced them onto the nearby Chiltern escarpment in the early 1990s.