Miller of Mansfield

The beautiful red-brick Georgian coaching inn in this attractive Thames-side village has been stylishly renovated by Paul Suter, who has lavished money on the place. In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it makes the perfect bolthole for exploring the Thames Path (just along the road) and the Chiltern Hills. Despite having smart rooms and being highly rated as a restaurant with rooms, the Miller of Mansfield remains a focal point for the village. The cracking bar, replete with shiny wooden floors, fat candles on scrubbed tables and blazing log fires, welcomes local and visiting real ale drinkers, and wine lovers too; indeed, refreshments extend to triple-certified origin coffees and organic teas. The kitchen focuses on freshness of ingredients, so expect seasonality in its take on modern British cooking. Suppliers are carefully sourced, and just about everything that can be is home made. In the Philippe Starck-influenced dining room, each dish brims with flavour: lobster ravioli, lobster bisque, basil purée and olive tapenade foam; poached monkfish, asparagus, wild mushroom risotto and courgette flowers; pistachio pork belly, braised cheek, parsnip purée, apple and pickled walnut chutney and Berkshire honey jus are just a selection. Yet you can order grilled lemongrass sardines, chorizo Scotch egg, a steak and red onion sandwich or a pub classic like steak and kidney pudding with roasted root vegetables from the all-day menu in the bar, perhaps with a pint of Rebellion IPA or Berkshire Brewery's Good Old Boy - ample demonstration of the lack of ostentation within this welcoming hostelry.