Wesley House

The 15th-century crooked building has associations with the founder of Methodism, and is chock-full of character. The dining room has been a given a smart makeover, mind you, with dramatic designer displays of flowers and state-of-the-art lighting that changes colour to create the required mood. Harmonising with the surroundings is a menu of gentle modern British cooking. A mosaic terrine combines wood pigeon, rabbit and foie gras with a dollop of pear and saffron chutney, while mains run to sea bass with shrimp and caper butter, or roast guinea fowl with puréed carrot and a lime-spiked sauce. English and French cheeses, including the local Stinking Bishop, served with membrillo, are the alternative to the blandishments of puddings such as prune and almond sponge with lemon crème fraîche sorbet.