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In the heart of the Cotswolds in the pretty village of Clanfield, The Clanfield Tavern has been welcoming locals and travellers since 1610. Pale walls give the traditional oak-beamed dining room a modern feel, while the bright conservatory has an open, airy atmosphere and a striking wine wall.

Hearty British comfort food, from steak and kidney pudding to homemade fish pie and fresh sandwiches and salad form the backbone of the restaurant menu.  Alternatively for something a little more elaborate try the deep fried tiger prawns with crispy vegetables or wild rabbit and bacon terrine with Shilbrook Manor Medlar jelly. If you are fortunate, you may even find Gloucester Old Spot pork and quails egg on the bar to nibble on.

Bought in 1996 by Chris Green, the intervening years have been spent in working up a thoroughly wholesome and agreeable riverside pub into a place which will not only look after the locals but will also attract all-comers for the quality of its cuisine.

Amongst recognizable dishes such treats as seared pigeon breasts with goat's cheese, on a bed of leaves with a raspberry dressing tickle many tastebuds. The breast of duck, roasted in honey and accompanied by pineapple, pac choi, chilli and ginger is delicious.

It does seem a little ungracious to charge the best part of a fiver for what most would regard as adequate vegetables, taking the cost of some main dishes up to £20. However, all is forgiven when you come to the wine list which is both comprehensive and sensibly priced.

House wine at £9.25, with plenty of really decent wines by the glass and a sensible policy with regard to half bottles - they don't have them! But you can have any full bottle opened and pay only for what is consumed.

At a time when diners are looking for some culinary pizzazz, thank goodness there are places like The Woodman Inn and Restaurant where guests are encouraged to reflect on the glorious bygone days, and if it's accompanied by some excellent cooking, it can hardly be bettered. Even the setting is wonderful; a welcome addition to the peaceful hamlet of Fernham in the Vale of the White Horse.

The food is typically gastropub fare, often with British and European flavours, so starters arrive in a straightforward manner, baked mini camembert, chicken liver pâté, smoked chicken Caesar salad and deep fried whitebait. Main courses hit some conventional notes with char-grilled 10oz sirloin steak, slow roast lamb shank, and The Woodman steak, mushroom and ale pie, while Thai red chicken curry shows how the cooking occasionally veers towards Asia.

Sometimes you don't have to travel all the way to Fernham for that pint of ale, there's Woodman on Tour, the mobile bar for all outdoor events.

The Old Crown Inn can be found in the heart of a market town in Farringdon, and has a history that dates back to the sixteenth century. Its features include an attractive fountain outside the courtyard restaurant and an open fire in the rustic bar, making it warm and cosy during chilly winters.

They serve traditional pub food and light snacks in addition to catering for those with special dietary requirements. The bar offers a selection of draught, bottled beers and locally produced ales. Nine en suite bedrooms are also available for guests to stay in.

Housed within a building that dates back to the 18th century, The Lamb at Buckland is a charming Cotswold pub in a village setting, with a façade that seems typical of the area. Wait till you reach the restaurant, decked out in quite formal style; so lunch in the bar but keep the restaurant for an evening treat.

The menu seamlessly blends in traditional and modern dishes with game, locally produced lamb and pork, Scottish beef and fresh fish from Brixham and Newlyn being regular features. There are plenty of dishes in their repertoire such as warm three cheese and red onion tart and goose and foie gras terrine. This could be followed by rack of lamb and roast saddle of hare and some great puddings that could turn you nostalgic with childhood memories, think steamed syrup sponge and Bakewell tart.

In addition to holding regular wine tastings, the owners' interest in wines is reflected in a serious list, a contender for special recognition.