The Compasses Inn

Tucked away in the sleepy hamlet of Lower Chicksgrove, this ancient, thatched inn is sunken under the weight of time. A watering hole since the 14th century (when animals drank from the stream running through the bar), the Compasses is now a local and regional destination in the capable hands of Jane and Ben Maschler. When the door creaks open for business, the place springs into life with families and friends of all ages crowding in for a merry time. Take a seat in the atmospheric bar with its inglenook fireplace and cosseting dark wood booths, or venture out to the garden to enjoy the pleasing vista over the fields. Appealingly fresh and simple food is served each day, with Chicksgrove beef and local organic veg lifting the offer beyond run-of-the-mill. A fudgy-centred black pudding Scotch egg and a pint of real ale is as satisfying as a slap-up meal of perfectly roasted plaice with beurre noisette followed by sticky apricot and date pudding. Comfortably furnished bedrooms above the pub and in the adjoining Plum Cottage complete a picture of warm hospitality.