Jackson Stops Inn - Stretton

Originally a farmhouse, but turned into a pub at the beginning of the twentieth century, this good-looking thatched inn gets its odd name from an estate agent called Jackson Stops, whose sign was stuck up outside the building when it was waiting for a buyer. That was back in 1955 - and a lot has changed since then.

The kitchen turns out hearty dishes with an international slant, putting crayfish and avocado 'basket' alongside Thai fishcakes, and offering locally sausages and mash as well as pan-fried duck breast with rosemary potatoes and confit rhubarb. There's also a blackboard menu of paninis and baguettes with a massive choice of up to 30 ingredients for mixing and matching.

The whole place comprises three beautifully furnished intimate dining rooms, a comfy main bar complete with sofas, and a fascinating snug noted for it's traditional 'nurdling bench' and games of 'pitch and toss'.