Venture In - Ombersley

The Venture In is reckoned to be the oldest building in Ombersley - a village full of historic, half-timbered dwellings. Beyond the black-and-white frontage (circa 1430) is a cottagey interior complete with blackened beams, exposed stonework and a massive inglenook - plus sofas and other creature comforts.

Chef/proprietor Toby Fletcher puts his faith in locally sourced produce for regularly changing fixed-price menus taking in carefully crafted dishes such as beef fillet with creamed polenta, mushrooms and red wine sauce, roast guinea fowl with asparagus, garlic and thyme sauce or calf's liver with crispy bacon and shallots.

There's also a separate fish menu, while regular seafood extravaganzas pull in the crowds each month: among the piscine delights might be monkfish wrapped in Parma ham on Puy lentils or scallops with cucumber salad and beetroot dressing. Desserts aim for comforting familiarity in the guise of chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream or trendily re-worked lemon meringue pie. The wine list offers a sound choice from Europe and the New World.