Fronted by a tree-sheltered lawn and surrounded by its own paddock, the sixteenth-century Horse & Groom Inn is currently reaping the benefits of a serious but sympathetic refurbishment following its acquisition by the elite, forward-looking Merchant Inns Group.

The day-to-day cooking is in the capable hands of Paul Nicholson and his team. Locally sourced produce is used to telling effect, and just about everything comes from within a 40-mile radius of the pub.

The result is a range of modern dishes embracing gastro-pub classics and more innovative modern ideas: Jesse Smith's pork and Stilton sausages or tomato and basil 'shepherd's pie with braised red cabbage share the billing with crab, lime and chilli cakes with ginger and lemongrass sauce or pan-roasted escalope of salmon with baby onions, confit fennel and red wine sauce.

To conclude, there's a tempting choice of desserts that could run to passion fruit tart with raspberry sauce or sticky toffee pudding with sticky toffee sauce.

The Horse & Groom boasts Wiltshire's only 'outside bar', plus a stunning walled garden and children's play area; its reputation for fine hospitality also extends to stylish accommodation for those wanting to stay a while.