Priory Bay Hotel

This former Tudor farmhouse, much added to over the years, including the addition of a Gothic church porch in the 1930s, is in a lovely spot surrounded by 70 acres of woodlands, private gardens and a fabulous sandy beach. Inside all is traditional elegance. Tuck into potted crab and sirloin steak with hand-cut chips in the Oyster Bar & Grill, but head to the smart Island Room restaurant for a bit of fine-dining pampering. The seasonally-changing menu might kick off with cured organic salmon plate with braised fennel and a caper berry purée before the likes of roasted wood pigeon with apple fondant, glazed turnips, beetroot and port, and Priory sloe berry wine jus. The confident handling of flavours continues with dessert; perhaps an orchard plum and Cognac soufflé with plum compôte and star anise ice cream.