Coach House Inn

A highwayman's refuge once, then a pit stop for riders carrying naval messages, this place on the A35 at Winterbourne Abbas has been catching passing traffic for a very long time. It works as a modern country bar and kitchen now, with dogs and children equally welcome, five newly renovated en-suite rooms upstairs, each with both a bath and a shower, and a function room for weddings, parties and anything more businesslike.

Dorset produce does the heavy lifting: beef from Shilvington Farm, charcuterie from The Real Cure, local cask ales and a solid range of craft beer. Menus shift with the seasons and cover breakfast, lunch, pizza, desserts, a kids' menu and a Sunday carvery, with allergens clearly labelled. Parking is ample, which matters on that stretch of road. Book a table if you want the carvery, and ask about the rooms if you are travelling through.