The New Inn, Cerne Abbas

Four hundred years of travellers have passed through this timber-framed coaching inn on the main street of Cerne Abbas, one of the more photographed villages in Dorset and deservedly so. Exposed beams and centuries-old stonework do the talking; the building has been a gathering point for the village since the 16th century. It sits within easy reach of Weymouth, Bridport and Shaftesbury, which makes it a sensible base rather than simply a pretty stop.

Neal Chainey runs the kitchen on a farm to fork footing, cooking modern British dishes shaped by local sourcing, the seasons and his own foraging. There is a lunchtime set menu of pub classics and an a-la-carte at dinner, both changing regularly, plus monthly events including tasting menu evenings and wine tastings. Kitchen aside, note the hours: Monday and Sunday are afternoons only, so evenings mean Tuesday through Saturday.