Hare & Hounds - Old Warden

Part of the tourist-friendly Shuttleworth Estate (home to the famous Shuttleworth Collection of classic cars and vintage aircraft), this distinctive village pub was built in almost Swiss style with projecting gables and attractive barge-boarding, and has the bonus of a superb sloping garden and terrace for fine-weather visits.

Log fires often warm the interior, which is divided up into no fewer than four attractively decorated, beamed dining areas (food is certainly taken seriously here!) - plus a modest bar dispensing real ales. The kitchen buys locally where possible and it rings the changes - although Thursday is always fish night.

Bread is baked with organic flour from Glebe Farm, ice creams are made on the premises and a typical menu might take in black pudding and bacon salad with a free-range poached egg, roast local pigeon with baby spinach, shallots and bacon sauce, and warm Bakewell tart for afters. In addition to cask beers, drinkers can explore the global wine list, which generally features some examples from the nearby Warden Abbey vineyard.