A uniquely British institution, the pub is a universally appealing, highly comforting kind of place that is all things to all people. Drinks after work with colleagues? Let's grab a pint at the pub. A night out with friends? See you in the pub for drinks. Celebrating a family birthday? Time to book dinner at the pub.
And then there's inns, pubs where you can stay over for the night too. What could be better than knowing that after a hearty dinner, all you have to do is settle in by the fire with a glass – or two – of your favourite tipple, enjoy the warming glow until the barman calls time, then simply wander either across or up to your bedroom?
The country inn is a particularly wondrous thing, and the UK’s smaller towns and villages play host to a plethora of quaint and quirky inns which have character and charm in abundance. As the nights start to draw in, it's time to book a weekend away, where you can wrap up warm, admire the changing colours of the trees and kick up the leaves, before cosying up with that special someone for an evening of joy and laughter.
Read on to discover The Michelin Inspectors' favourite inns, where history, playfulness and eccentricity are allowed to shine – and be sure to keep an eye for those awarded Michelin Keys at the UK's inaugural Key Launch.
The Bull Hotel, Bridport, Dorset
The West Dorset market town of Bridport is home to this fine boutique hotel, which occupies an old coaching inn that can trace its roots back to 1535. The look is historically inspired but quite contemporary, with eclectic influences and a collection of one-of-a-kind furnishings; in-room comforts include smart TVs, coffee machines and, in some cases, roll-top bathtubs.
The Crown Amersham, Amersham, Buckinghamshire
For busy Londoners who haven’t always got time to nip off to the Lake District for the weekend, it’s good to know there are options just outside the M25. The Crown in Amersham is a perfectly judged mix of coaching inn tradition and low-key, unpretentious contemporary styling, and is perhaps best known for its cameo in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.Related Read: The Best Dining Pubs in London
The Fife Arms, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Two Michelin Keys
Located deep in the Scottish Highlands, this Victorian coaching inn offers a glorious trip back in time, as well as plenty of Scottish character, courtesy of the likes of tartans, antlers and sheepskins. The rooms and suites are unique in their shape, size and décor, but all are sumptuously appointed and feature ornate wooden furnishings. While the rather grand Clunie Dining Room upholds tradition with its looks, its menu comes in a more modern vein.
The Swan Southwold, Southwold, Suffolk
One Michelin Key
Among the chief attractions of the Suffolk seaside town of Southwold is the Adnams brewery and distillery, and The Swan is Adnams' extension into the world of hospitality. This is a very thorough renovation of a classic property, leaving the Georgian façade in its original form and updating the interiors in a vibrant, playful style reminiscent of some country house hotels.Related Read: The Best Dining Pubs in Norfolk and Suffolk
The Talbot Malton, Malton, North Yorkshire
This 17th-century former coaching inn in the North Yorkshire market town of Malton is now a classic-meets-modern, boutique-inspired hotel. The Talbot doesn’t stray too far from its historical roots, but has updated its interiors with bright, bold colours and one-off vintage pieces, and updated its comforts with the likes of coffee machines and Roberts radios.Related Read: The Best Dining Pubs in Yorkshire
The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach, Gloucestershire
England’s venerable coaching inns are the ancestors of today’s pubs, and The Wheatsheaf Inn, in the Cotswold town of Northleach, is as true as can be to the classic, slightly utopian ideal of a public house as a welcoming place for a drink, a delicious bite to eat and an attractive, comfortable room for the night. If only there were more places like this, the world would be all the better for it.
The White Horse, Dorking, Surrey
A Victorian-era coaching inn where Charles Dickens wrote part of 'The Pickwick Papers', The White Horse has had £4 million spent on its refurbishment, and its owners have decorated the rooms in a style that’s colourful, eclectic and luxurious, in a homespun sort of way. Duck down duvets and Green & Spring bath products provide an extra welcome touch.
