25 top dog-friendly pubs & restaurants in Britain
Published 03 March 2026

In Scots dialect, ‘barry,’ ‘barrie’ or ′barree’ means fine or good; it's also the first name of chef-owner Barry Bryson, who runs this recent addition to Edinburgh's restaurant scene. Barry Fish is his first permanent solo restaurant, and with olive-green paintwork, a stone facade and fresh, contemporary interiors (parquet floors, apple-green velvet banquettes), it's a bright, modern space.

The menu showcases shellfish and seafood from around Scotland, with a couple of additional dishes for vegetarians and meat-eaters. The 'low tide' menu (aka lunch) has a relaxed vibe, kicking off with the likes of home-smoked haddock kedgeree and organic eggs or a sublimely delicate signature dish of cured sea trout pastrami glazed with treacle and teamed with aïoli, baby capers and dried grapes; we also liked the chunky sourdough focaccia topped with sweet Eyemouth crab, grilled Cheddar and apple bechamel. 

For main course, slow-cooked octopus (chargrilled, pink and tender) also received the thumbs-up, served on a bed of whipped feta with aniseed-tinged persillade. Dessert is a low-key nod to those with a sweet tooth, perhaps Eve's pudding with custard, a chocolate caramel or marmalade ice cream. Run by a small, close-knit team, the restaurant has a relaxed, friendly vibe that extends to four-legged companions. And to drink? There are signature cocktails and a small but thoughtfully curated selection of wines.

Josephine is that rare combination, a classic-looking French bistro that serves its neighbourhood well but is also worth travelling across town for. The fact that the driving force behind the operation is chef Claude Bosi makes it easy to see why news of its repute has spread far and wide – the dining room is regularly packed to capacity, humming with noise and activity.

The menu is classic French through and through, with a focus on bistro classics and regional Lyonnaise specialities from Bosi’s home town. Though the food stays in familiar territory rather than going adventuring, everything is produced with great assurance – as one might expect, given Bosi's elevated reputation. Indeed, one sign of a good kitchen is what it can do with humble ingredients. Consider, for example, the soupe à l’oignon, widely copied although we’ve yet to eat one that comes even close to this version.

Many staples are here (terrine, filet de boeuf au poivre, lapin à la moutarde, gratin dauphinois) – dishes that people really enjoy eating. And judging by the elegant simplicity of leeks vinaigrette, or skate wing in a brown butter and caper sauce, or even a light, puffy vol-au-vent filled with chicken and morel sauce, there are never too many tastes on the plate, either. Like the cheeseboard, desserts are resolutely Gallic – think oeuf à la neige, prâline rose, and tarte au citron meringue. The good value of the daily plat du jour and the short-choice set menu offered at lunch and dinner add to Josephine's allure.

With Lucy Bosi overseeing front of house alongside general manager Will Smith (the ex-Arbutus/Wild Honey frontman lured back from Scotland), it's clear that all aspects of running a restaurant – buying ingredients, cooking, ambience – have been brought together without fuss or ostentation. House wines are available bouchon-style (you only pay for what you have drunk), and the full list is an oenophile's tour of the Rhône Valley.

‘The best restaurant by far in Sevenoaks,’ is praise indeed, and there’s no shortage of vocal support for this local eatery – a lone independent in a ‘sea of high-street chains’ and also ‘a great place to take family, children (and dogs)’.

But then Stuart Gillies has skin in the game. The chef (and former CEO of the Gordon Ramsay Group), has brought his unique experience gained working for some global big hitters to this charming clapboard building set back from the town's main drag – and you can see the results in the comfortable, easy-on-the-eye look of the dining room, in the young, clued-up service, and in the no-nonsense menu offering plenty of appealing and flexible ideas.

At our meal, crisp, pan-roasted fillet of sea bream served with asparagus, samphire, citrus beurre blanc and crushed new potatoes delivered bags of satisfaction, while Basque cheesecake with Kentish strawberries proved to be happy bedfellows. Elsewhere, staples such as local Chart Farm sirloin steak with Café de Paris butter – as well as a good-value Sunday roast – show the kitchen is willing to do populist things (and do them well). The short set menu (available weekday lunches and some early evenings) is excellent value, too. To drink, there are cocktails and a well-annotated, mainly European wine list that opens at a commendable £28.

A welcome pit stop for walkers and outdoor types on a relatively sparse section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Porthclais Kiosk provides exactly what is required – and doesn’t try to be anything more. The picturesque harbour is a gathering point for various coastal activity companies so it’s a great place to fuel up beforehand – or revive yourself afterwards. On offer is well-brewed coffee, alongside locally baked cakes, made-to-order sandwiches and toasties, plus a small selection of local ice creams.

The people of Stockbridge are lucky to have this convivial enoteca and trattoria right in their midst. Sotto is a genuine neighbourhood spot – and then some. Spread over two floors, the easy-going contemporary space offers nimble, cheerful service and straightforward Italian cooking. All bases are covered here: pop in for a snack of salumi, tuck into a generous plate of pasta (perhaps mezze maniche with tomato, guanciale and pecorino from the exceedingly good-value set lunch menu) or dine in style on 'nduja-breaded pork chop with mustard mayo. Either way, the food is supported by a large, well-chosen wine list that explores Italy in conscientious detail. The warm welcome extends to furry, four-legged friends.

According to one reader, the Alford Arms sets the ’gold standard’ for pubby excellence in this neck of the Chilterns. Others concur that it's 'consistently top notch', and we reckon this born-again Victorian hostelry is a thoroughly likeable proposition with plenty of box-ticking attributes – not least its glorious location in a bucolic hamlet on the fringes of Ashridge Estate (NT).

Fans are also quick to applaud the pub's tasteful farmhouse-chic interiors, hand-pulled ales and savvy all-European wine list, although the venue’s trump cards are its unwavering commitment to local produce and its community spirit – from supporting the village cricket team to doing the milk run when it’s snowing. Much of the credit for its enduring appeal must go to David and Becky Salisbury, who have been running the show and championing the cause since 1999.

To eat, bubble 'n' squeak with oak-smoked bacon, free-range poached egg and hollandaise has been on the menu since day one, but everything else changes on a weekly basis. Expect a rolling repertoire of appealing seasonal dishes ranging from chargrilled Padrón peppers (grown in nearby Northchurch) or Ashridge venison bonbons with bramble sauce to an apple and pear strudel made with fruit from the Chiltern Heritage Orchard.

Given the pub’s landlocked location, fish has to make the long journey up from the West Country, but the haul speaks for itself: how about Cornish crab with chilli-buttered courgette linguine or hake fillet with crushed new potatoes, buttered kale and caper sauce. Chatty, well-informed staff provide ‘first-class service,’ whether you’re popping in for a pint or contemplating the full three courses. Dogs are ‘welcomed rather than tolerated,’ too.

Dating from the 12th century and secluded even in this quiet corner of the Peaks, this classic (and beautifully restored) country pub – real ales, open fires, dogs – has a seriously ambitious kitchen. But make sure you arrive hungry in order to make the most of the ever-changing seasonal menu, which shows off the owners’ dedication to local producers. The main action is on the ground floor, where there are comfy armchairs around the hearth for drinkers and a conservatory space that puts food first. Upstairs, a handful of tables are laid out within metres of the open kitchen, which allows you to scope out the full range of food on offer. 

On weekday lunchtimes, the bar menu ranges from proper bar food (battered sausage with curry sauce) to more experimental light bites (seaweed-cured cod with pickled cucumber, buttermilk and caviar). Roast lamb rump, shoulder, braised carrot and Cambridge sauce was a great example of the kitchen’s ability to make even the most everyday ingredients into something memorable, but an undeniable highlight of the main courses was the many-layered flavours that were piled into wild mushroom and Hartington Bomber twin ravioli with king oyster mushroom and gremolata.

Desserts are elegant takes on pub classics in very manageable portion sizes, from warm Bakewell tart to sticky toffee pudding with a superb sauce and ginger ice cream. Save for a few extra wines by the glass, the drinks options are roughly what you’d expect from a historic coaching inn in the UK’s original National Park. It’s the food that brings it bang up-to-date.

*Sally Abé left the Bull on 7 January 2026 to pursue a new project.*

The Public House Group (the Pelican, the Hero, the Hart et al) is fast becoming the last word in pared-back cool contemporary British pubs and this Cotswold outpost is a model of its kind. Owners Phil Winser and James Gummer grew up around these parts and cut their drinking teeth in the Bull (which has stood on the corner of Sheep Street since Henry VIII was taking wives). Together with Olivier van Themsche, they've retained an atmospheric air, with low raftered ceilings, welcoming fires and the flicker of pillar candles throughout the flagstoned bar and dining rooms.

With Sally Abé in post to lead the kitchen, there’s just the right dose of finesse cutting through the line-up of contemporary pub dishes. Start with some warm soda bread to bolster the lightness of ‘mackerel, tomato and lovage’ or mushroom and chestnut soup; otherwise, head straight to a heartier Bull pie or pork chop charred on the grill. On one recent visit, a dish billed simply as ‘farm salad’ proved a flavour-flaunting textural medley of green beans, courgette, fresh peas, and crushed and whole-roasted hazelnuts. Delicious simplicity continues right through to desserts such as pitch-perfect chocolate mousse and apricot frangipane tart.

Wednesdays might bring steak night and the otherwise absent chips to the table, while the beautiful garden plays host to summer BBQs. An enterprising list of cask ales and speciality ciders competes with the adventurous wine selection (fleshed out with a weekly changing list of single bottles).

‘What a lovely little place,’ observes one visitor to Dominic Chapman’s classy village pub not far from Maidenhead. All-comers are welcome here, and accommodating staff are keen to keep everyone happy – whether you’re in for a pint after walking the dog in the nearby woods or have ‘turned up from London in a fancy car’. Inside, it looks and feels local but with a gentrified veneer; prices on the seasonal carte are at the higher end of the foodie pub scale, but there’s also a set deal (dubbed ‘the village menu’) which will provide three courses for under £30.

Chapman’s sure-footed cooking brings judiciously sourced ingredients (some of them local) and worldly-wise culinary technique to the table – from his renowned lasagne of wild rabbit, wood blewits and chervil to peppered fillet of wild venison with creamed spinach, celeriac purée and sauce poivrade. He also has a way with fish, be it roast Cornish cod (with gremolata and olive oil) or line-caught Cornish sea bass (with potato gnocchi, purple sprouting broccoli, girolles and a boozy red wine sauce). Alternatively, look to the specials if you fancy a plate of tagliolini with smoked salmon or a stomach-warming oxtail and kidney pie with mash.

Desserts are fashioned with immaculate skill, witness dark chocolate délice with cherries, salted-caramel ice cream and almond biscuit – although there’s also room for a generous helping of steamed treacle pud with custard. The wine list is noteworthy too, offering plentiful by-the-glass options covering most major grape varieties. In short, ‘an all-round perfect local’ and a ‘huge asset to the area’. 

The Dog & Gun takes centre stage in the tranquil north Cumbrian village of Skelton. As befits its name, the place will welcome your canine companion (if you give notice), but perhaps leave the firearms at home. It's a welcoming dining space, divided by a central bar, with misshapen ceiling beams and wheelback chairs, and an approach to service considerate enough to turn down the Ed Sheeran when orders are being taken. Ben Queen-Fryer works in splendid isolation at the stoves, offering a style of high-gloss country cooking that puts the emphasis on substance as well as impressive technique. Pasta is spot-on, as in a yolk-yellow raviolo filled with pork, sauced with a reduction of the poaching milk with sage and garlic. A terrine of smoked Jersey Royals, or perhaps a cheesy soufflé, might be alternative starters, but do save room for the trencher-style main dishes – witness a stonking venison suet pudding packed with tender, gamey meat, served with a stick of beetroot done in duck fat, mead gravy and a side of the chunkiest chips. Dover sole is butter-sauced, while the veg option might be earthy cep risotto. Even the crumbly-topped dessert soufflé, made with the Lyth Valley's celebrated damsons and partnered with frangipane ice cream, is a hefty proposition – so that diners not opting for the chocolate millefeuille need not feel skimped. A couple of Cumbrian craft beers and sanely priced wines by the glass lead the drinks offering, with selections forsaking the beaten track for Swiss varietals, Slovak Riesling and an orange creation from Alsace.

Part of Charles and Edmund Inkin’s 'Eat, Drink, Sleep' trilogy – which also includes the Gurnard’s Head and the Old Coastguard in Cornwall – this ever-popular pub with rooms is, in many ways, an archetypal dream of a country inn. It transports you to a half-imagined heyday of fireside sofas, knobbly brickwork, low beams and quarry tiled floors, with craft ales at the bar and fresh, home-cooked food buoyed up by produce from the kitchen garden.

For all its heritage vibes, the Griffin is also a slick, modern operation, with polished service and a properly cheffy kitchen (headed by Gwenann Davies). Her repertoire includes traditional ideas such as broccoli and Stilton soup or lamb rump with faggot, peas and red wine gravy alongside more contemporary dishes – perhaps a sticky glazed BBQ short rib with sweet, spiky kimchi, luscious sriracha mayo and fresh herbs, ahead of pearly, crisp-skinned hake with a crunchy, breadcrumbed crab and chorizo cake, set on an intense, velvety, red pepper purée.

Each dish is carefully considered, right through to dessert. A voluptuous white chocolate mousse with berry ice cream, fresh raspberries and crunchy, bittersweet honeycomb provided a satisfying end to our most recent visit. Sunday lunch is an ultra-traditional feast featuring meat from the lowland hills, greenery from the garden and plenty of homely touches. In addition to real ales, drinkers can pick from a fair-sized wine list that has been annotated with personality as well as knowledge; the numerous options by the glass are well worth considering. 

Overlooking the western end of Porthmeor Beach, away from the tourist hugger-mugger of downtown St Ives, the Fish Shed is swathed in scents of the sea. If you turn up sandy-footed from pottering on the beach, nobody will object. Populist seafood dishes take in the likes of crab Scotch egg, Cornish mackerel tartare or crisply battered Korean-style monkfish, and the bracing freshness of it all comes as standard – although execution can be a little muted. For afters, there could be a fairly hefty miso treacle tart with Cornish honey and yoghurt sorbet – enough for two, unless you're an incorrigible dessert fiend. A short wine list opens at £7.50 a glass.

Sympathetically restored by the brothers behind popular tapas bar Porta, the Jolly Gardeners has all the stained glass and dog-friendliness required of a local, and is far enough outside the city walls to build a loyal following. Downstairs, they’re pouring a small selection of quality beers and it’s walk-ins only; if you book you’ll be in the upstairs dining rooms, which still feels a touch sterile.

Chef George Prole (last seen at Covino) has understood the brief for a menu that balances pub snacks such as a really porky Scotch egg plus a smear of mustard, with more evolved dishes including crab risotto or crisp courgette coins, super-salty against a generous plateful of Crowdie and lemon zest. Perhaps in honour of the small plates that rule at Porta, everything is served on almost defiantly tiny vintage crockery, which does not enhance the grandeur of a jam-packed ham hock and parsley sauce pie with a buttery braise of lettuce and peas, or do much for a smash-style cheeseburger that’s one of several BBQ-flamed options.

Even summer berries get the barbecue treatment, the smoky metal of the grill offset by milk ice cream and elderflower, but it’s the treatment of Victoria plums, in a frangipane tart with excellent pastry, that’s more likely to make the eponymous gardeners jolly. As for wine, expect a lively modern list with a generous choice by the glass or carafe. 

With its simple whitewashed interiors, this unpretentious roadside hostelry is a relief from the many designer-led pubs hereabouts. There are no airs or graces, just a warm welcome from the staff and all the ingredients for a please-all boozer: quizzes, music, a dog- and child-friendly attitude, beers at the bar and decent food (think pizzas, curries, salads and suchlike). Otherwise, look to the specials for generous helpings of local seafood – mussels in winter, crab/lobster in summer. To drink, Brancaster Brewery ales compete with a brief wine list and a mighty rum selection. Jolly by name…

Nothing is quite as reassuringly rural as eating in a raftered barn, especially a 400-year-old one. Throw in some landscape pictures, crisply clothed tables and staff who radiate enthusiasm from every pore, and we're sold. Of course, the plentiful local produce that teems forth from the kitchen has something to do with it too, and here is where chef Charlotte Oliver really shines. His dishes are a mix of traditional European cooking and modern ideas, but with Wyken running through them like a stick of rock.

The estate's venison might feature in a rissole to start, teamed with celeriac rémoulade and jam from Wyken damsons, while wine from the surrounding vineyards (an aromatic Bacchus enriched with garlic and cream) is used as the cooking medium for Brancaster mussels. More of that wine makes a silky velouté to sauce smoked cod, which appears with pickled oyster mushrooms and dill – or there could be a classic assemblage of pork belly and tenderloin with pommes Anna, sprouting broccoli, black pudding and Wyken apple in jus noisette.

Sweet favourites furnish a dessert selection that includes trifle, panna cotta and pavlova, as well as dark chocolate mousse with poached pear, olive oil and sea salt. The estate's wines feature strongly on the list, and there is also a hoppy, malty house ale called Good Dog.

An expansive, cheering space full of warmth and energy, with partially sheltered outdoor seating too, the Magdalen has evolved into a dynamic dining pub in recent times. It runs to a mix of bookings and walk-ins, and is dog-friendly – as long as Rover is happy to stay under the table. An enthusiastically friendly team keeps things motoring, bringing generously laden plates from the open kitchen. A hungry late-summer group tackled the slow-cooked neck of lamb for three, served with excellent dauphinoise and spiced red cabbage, and still managed to take home a couple of portions.

There is rock-steady technique in the form of a four-cheese soufflé to start, twice-baked and served with pear and walnut salad or, perhaps, crisped pig's cheek with gribiche. Fish main courses can be as grand as the roast meats serve for Sunday lunch, with a whole sea bass flashed on the grill and dressed in cime di rapa, garlic and chilli.

‘Leave room for desserts,’ advises one happy visitor – not surprising when the line-up might include greengage crumble, bramble Bakewell, richly fashioned cheesecake and even simple ice cream and sorbet options (perhaps pistachio and pear, respectively). A concise list of fairly priced wines includes Gassac's Viognier-Chardonnay blend and Camillo's succulent Morellino di Scansano from Tuscany.

Bang in the middle of town and open for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, the Nettle is the kind of happy, relaxed place where you can take your kids and dogs – but bring an appetite, too. Breakfast includes the standard granola/berries/avo on toast offer, plus a Nettle fry-up, while brunchers head for the shakshuka or chicken jalepeño hash with fried eggs. 

The all-day menu is a roll call of ‘small plates’ – though not that small – and includes the likes of butternut squash croquettes (incredibly luxurious, fine and crispy on the outside, soft as silk within) or sweet spring leeks with lentils and green beans, while a dish of local pasture-fed beef cooked pink with sweet paper-thin Roscoff onions and an extraordinary salty/spicy pickled-walnut emulsion is a fantastic bold statment. 

Four generous cod cheeks in a textbook tempura with lemon and samphire is simplicity itself, while cauliflower (charred and yeasty) may not be much to look at but the flavour is immense. Severn & Wye rhubarb pie with clotted cream comes with fall-apart pastry and vies with a perfectly executed lemon 'pie' that must be in the running for the 'best-ever dessert'. The short but smart wine list majors on natural wines; otherwise, there are cocktails and beers on tap. 

On a rural stretch of road three miles from Rye, the Plough encapsulates many people’s idea of what a country pub should be like. A garden with ‘exceptional views’ beckons in fine weather and a convivial atmosphere prevails. Indeed, a complete lack of pretence is an undoubted plus, from the scuffed floorboards, plain tables and wood burners to an informal approach to eating – ‘delicious, seasonal and locally sourced,’ is how it appeared to one visitor.

The simple, good-value weekday lunch is well reported and is bolstered by a straightforward carte – a mix of pub classics (battered haddock and fries, Winchelsea lamb shoulder pie), and more complex combinations ranging from cured chalk stream trout pastrami with cornichons, cabbage and mustard crème fraîche to a ‘sensational’ main course of onion bhaji Scotch egg Madras with Bombay potatoes, mint yoghurt and greens.

Sunday roasts are reckoned to be ‘leaps and bounds better than anywhere else in the area’, with the Yorkshire puddings and cauliflower cheese (made with Sussex Charmer and Twineham Grange) singled out for special praise. To finish, the sticky toffee pudding has also impressed, as have the staff, whose warm welcome and good humour extends to small children and dogs. As for drinks, Harvey’s Sussex Best is on draught, while the compact wine list offers reasonably priced drinking from £27 a bottle. Accommodation is in 'the loft' – a self-contained flat above the pub.

This historic Victorian hostelry on a quiet road in Notting Hill has been given a new lease of life by Cubitt House, owner of a number of London dining pubs – and it's by far the best in the group, in our opinion. The makeover is impressive with an exterior painted in British 'racing green' and plenty of rustic charm within, accentuated by bare brick walls, potted plants and marble-topped tables. There’s a choice of dining spots: at the counter by the raw bar, to the rear in a cosy room with black leather chesterfields, or in a light-filled conservatory with sofa seating right next to the large back garden. Service is laid-back and pleasant without being too chummy, while the (dog-friendly) vibe is positively relaxed. Ben Tish (ex-Norma and the Game Bird) has been recruited to lead the kitchen and has devised a sophisticated, Mediterranean-inspired menu of snacks, small and large plates and salads. From the raw bar selection, super-fresh hand-dived scallop crudo with carosello cucumber was lifted by a lemon dressing and a sprinkling of dill, chilli and marjoram – ‘not the sort of dish you find in most pubs,' noted an inspector. Nor is a small plate of three cheese pizzette fritti served with burrata, mascarpone, Fontina and spring truffle, or a gutsy piece of salt marsh lamb (paired with French beans, peas, courgettes and a scoop of ricotta) made special with a gentle hit from rose harissa. To finish, doughnuts with raspberry jam and Marsala custard were pronounced ‘delicious’ but there are also Neal’s Yard cheeses to consider – especially if you want to continue exploring the broad-minded collection of wines. Expect plenty of variety for most budgets, with plentiful options by the glass, and bottles starting at £29.

Off the beaten track, and not an easy place to find, this 16th-century half-timbered building stands on the banks of the river Lugg, positioned by an old stone bridge on the Mortimer Trail (a 30-mile walking route from Ludlow to Kington). Inside, a warren of heavily beamed rooms with wonky floors and open fires provides nooks for a quiet tête-a-tête and separate spaces for louder crowds or those with their four-legged friends; the terraced garden comes into its own on fine days. Service is friendly and welcoming. In the kitchen, Andy Link and his team take sustainability, ethical sourcing and food miles seriously, seeking out the very best that the region has to offer from local farms and artisan suppliers, backed up by their own kitchen garden (and their own hens). We noticed that lunchtime regulars tended to favour the perfectly cooked rare-breed Herefordshire steak sandwich with truffle chips, but we enjoyed a light meal of crispy garlicky Herefordshire snails with truffle mayo, followed by eye-catching river trout cured in beetroot and local Chase gin, plus a delightful poached pear accompanied by a scoop of assertive blue-cheese ice cream to finish. Many other items have been singled out for praise, from a generous piece of grilled and lightly caramelised cod served on a pile of peas and mangetout with a lovely lovage sauce to a dish of chicken with courgettes, garden chard and wild herb pesto that 'had some body’. For afters, readers have endorsed the nettle cake and the rhubarb purée with 'custard mousse'. A good chunk of the decently priced wine list is vegan or vegetarian – though given the impressive ethos of the place, there are surprisingly few English offerings.

Readers love the ‘stunning views over the water’ at this pub with rooms on the Taw estuary in arty Appledore. Ask the charming staff for a table by the huge windows or bag a spot on the terrace to make the most of the vistas. Book ahead for breakfast (a favourite of local dog walkers), drop by for a lunchtime sarnie or dip into the daily carte, which might offer the likes of moules marinière or an Exmoor beef burger with sriracha mayonnaise and pickled onion rings. Dessert could be sticky toffee pudding. Sunday roasts and a full kids' menu complete the family-friendly offer, while drinks include local ales and ciders as well as plenty of wines by the glass.

The pub’s name references the Derby, which has been run for centuries up on Epsom Downs racecourse, so it's no surprise that the interior of this pleasingly spruced-up, 16th-century coaching house is stuffed with memorabilia – our dining booth featured a fascinating display of race day badges. An old-school bar at the front is regularly filled with families and their dogs, while the separate restaurant area is lit by a skylight that illuminates the dark wood surfaces and eclectic furniture.

Pub classics such as sausage rolls with Dorking sauce, homemade pies, rare-breed steaks (cooked ‘nicely pink’) are balanced by a roster of more ambitious dishes. A fistful of tapas-style small plates double as starters (Dingley Dell charcuterie, burrata and roast pumpkin with crispy buckwheat drizzled with hot honey), while mains hop around the globe – from comforting slow-cooked lamb shank with chive mash and roasted heritage carrots to five-spice duck breast with cherry gel or corn-fed chicken leg presented as a confit alongside girolles, broad beans and fino sherry sauce.

On Sundays, the chef brings it all back home with a trio of traditional roasts served generously with ‘epic Yorkshires’ and plenty of trimmings – the cauliflower cheese is an outright winner. Desserts keep it homely too, with the likes of apple and blackberry crumble or sticky toffee pudding often showing up on the menu. Service gets full marks all round, as does the drinks list – whether your preference is for locally brewed ale, reasonably priced wine or a zesty cocktail.

Liam Dillon, chef/patron of the fine-dining Boat near Lichfield, has taken a different tack for his second venture. His emphasis on local, seasonal and sustainable produce is unchanged, but the Two Pigs is a more casual, modern neighbourhood pub and bistro. The place is painted a smart but unobtrusive sage green, while food is served in the bar, the low-key dining room (note that tables for two are somewhat cramped) or the rear courtyard.

The welcome could not be friendlier nor the service more helpful – and you can bring your dog. Although the pub is named after Betty and Peggy (permanent piggy residents at the Boat), you need to drop any anthropomorphic sentimentality if you are to enjoy a gargantuan, juicy pork chop, complete with a thick ribbon of fat and crackling, plus burnt apple purée, pommes Anna and pickled mustard seeds. All-day bar snacks show touches of urban sophistication (perhaps Maldon rock oysters with pickled red-wine shallots and hot sauce or fish croquettes with romesco sauce), while starters on our short but well-structured autumn menu included Liam’s signature fried chicken pieces with sesame and spring onion, and a mushroom parfait with toasted brioche and damson chutney. 

Among the mains were herb-crusted lamb shank with creamed mash and braised carrot, and a roasted whole plaice to share with samphire and beurre blanc. Desserts stick to the tried-and-tested likes of tiramisu and sticky toffee pudding. As well as a good wine list, there’s a selection of beers that includes their own Two Pigs Ale. 

'A bit of a departure for Inverness and a great addition,' reports our mole in the Highlands. First opened as a passion project in 2021, this relaxed wine bar is now in full swing and popular with locals. Inside is a small mix of tables with a room upstairs for tastings or private bookings – and when the sun shines, there's hot competition for a seat outside to enjoy the 200-strong wine list or the selection of Scottish beers, ciders and whiskies. Platters of cheese and dry-cured meats all come from Highland producers and are served with locally baked sourdough bread. Dogs and children welcome. Booking highly recommended.

Ultra-dependable and much-loved locally, this bakery-café is as busy and buzzy at breakfast as it is for lunch but folk are more than happy to queue (they don't take bookings). All eyes are on the open-plan kitchen, where the team serves up an all-day menu full of good things – from sourdough pancakes with maple syrup and sublime Turkish eggs to lunchtime sandwiches (perhaps slow-roasted beef brisket), toasties (chicken, bacon and smoked cheese, say) and curries. Be warned: their sourdough breads sell out very quickly (pre-order for collection). Children and dogs are made very welcome.