The Swan

Inside and out, The Swan is the quintessential ancient English inn. For six centuries its wonky black-timbered façade has been at the hub of life in the market town of Lavenham - even its brick floors are made of ballast from the wool ships that made the town's fortune in Tudor times; centuries later, its timeless gnarled beams, oak panels and cosy nooks and crannies hosted many a boozy session for Second World War RAF pilots from Lavenham airfield. When it comes to dining, go for crowd-pleasing pub grub classics in the bar, or put the kitchen through its paces beneath the soaring barn-style rafters of the fine-dining Gallery Restaurant, an atmospheric faux-medieval great hall complete with a minstrels' gallery. Despite the setting, the food is 21st-century stuff, taking in the likes of Denham Estate smoked venison with basil pannacotta, salt and pepper tuile and roasted tomato dressing, followed by pan-roasted duck with celeriac and potato rösti, and apple and rhubarb compôte.