The Chequers Inn

The modern rubs along with the traditional just fine in this 17th-century coaching inn next to the village cricket pitch, and from whose mature garden you can see Belvoir Castle. Interior delights are the five real fires, a bar that does a good line in real ales, namely Woodforde's Wherry Bitter and Batemans, and the Bakehouse Restaurant, where the oven from village bakery days remains in situ. Expect sophisticated pub food - monkfish pie with Gruyère and herb crust, or pan-fried duck breast with sweet potato cake, sauté spinach and cherry jus. There are pub classics too, like beer-battered haddock and hand-cut chips, and gammon steak with fried organic egg. If the words '7th Heaven' appear against your chosen dish on the menu, it is one of seven served between six and seven o'clock every day of the week for £7.