The Leicester Arms

This beautifully restored, ancient village pub with rooms is proving to be a popular venue with readers and locals alike. The quaint beamed public bar with real fires is a cosy place to hunker down, especially with a pint of Larkins ale (brewed just up the road in Chiddingstone), while the airy wood-panelled dining room overlooking a terraced garden and the stunning countryside beyond puts the focus on food. The kitchen manages to pull off the pub classics with aplomb, delivering everything from black pudding Scotch eggs with mustard mayo to 'an excellent cheeseburger with fantastic chips', alongside generous portions of homemade chicken liver parfait with tangy, spiced Cavendish plum compôte, duck confit, and well-reported Sunday roasts.