Fox & Hounds

Traditional English and Italian food is the hallmark of this imposing 17th-century free house, which stands opposite the green amid the charming stone and thatched cottages in the village centre. There's a delightful walled garden, making this former coaching inn a perfect spot for a sunny day. The pub has a reputation for good food and hospitality, and is an ideal stopping-off point for walkers and cyclists exploring nearby Rutland Water and the surrounding area. Its menu is the work of Italian chef-proprietor Valter Floris and his team, and in the evenings there's an impressive list of authentic, thin-crust pizzas. In addition, the main menu features coq au vin with bacon, chestnut mushrooms, Savoy cabbage and new potatoes; roasted pumpkin and goat's cheese filo tartlets; and calves' liver with mash and onion gravy. Good beers include Grainstore Rutland Bitter.