The Wild Duck

Originally the gardener's cottage for nearby Ewen Manor, this extended Grade II-listed village pub with rooms has been sympathetically refurbished by the Country Creatures group with no expense spared. Locals drop by for pints of Budding Pale Ale from the Stroud Brewery and maybe a homemade sausage roll from the blackboard of old-school bar snacks. Otherwise, diners can choose the low-lit privacy of the dining room or the sunlit conservatory, both of which exude an air of unfussy luxury. The short, crowd-pleasing carte is seasonal, locally sourced and cooked with precision and skill. Comforting dishes such as flat iron chicken with mushrooms and brandy sauce come in hearty portions, though veg must be ordered separately. Rib-sticking puddings take you back to school days (although there's also homemade sorbet), and regulars reckon they serve 'the best Sunday lunches': share a 1kg côte de boeuf or go solo with roast Herefordshire sirloin, Oxfordshire pork or spatchcock chicken. To drink, beers and cocktails are supplemented by a wide-ranging list of wines from independent producers, including excellent by-the-glass house selections.