The Wellington Arms

‘Wonderful food, charming and attentive service, in a beautiful, rustic setting… no detail overlooked,' is how one local summed up ‘The Welli’ – a pristine pub with rooms that’s been a beacon for good food in these parts for more than two decades. Jason King and Simon Page are the long-standing custodians, luring back regulars with their faultless service and confident cooking. Seasonal flavours and ingredients from the garden dictate much of the repertoire, so expect appealing ideas ranging from a ‘perfect’ venison pot pie using local roe deer to well-wrought modern classics including spot-on baked Brixham plaice cooked on the bone and dotted with capers, dill and brown butter.  There’s been praise, too, for a crab and lobster bisque ‘of such an intense flavour’ and for desserts including ’absolutely perfect’ renditions of treacle tart and sherry trifle. Ice cream (made on the premises) is available to take away, along with homemade jams, chutneys, cakes and biscuits displayed in the tiny bar. The house ale comes from the Longdog Brewery in Basingstoke, and there's a well-balanced, mainly European wine list too.