The Stag & Huntsman

Surrounded by captivating countryside, this inviting 18th-century pub with rooms aims to please all-comers. Drinkers populate the narrow bar (real ales, a short wine list), while diners head for the Drawing Room with its open fire and views of the pretty garden. As for the food, the kitchen works to a brief, good-value set lunch and a slightly larger carte featuring pub classics alongside some fancier dishes. Standards can vary, though our cured trout with seaweed salad followed by an Old Winchester risotto with oyster mushrooms and rocket pesto were winners – likewise a dessert of coconut and dark chocolate crémeux. The pub's Sunday roasts also attract plenty of plaudits. Efficient service too.