The White Hart

A handsome, 16th-century country pub at the edge of Somerton’s octagonal market square, The White Hart is log-burner cosy with whitewashed walls, stripped floorboards and antler chandeliers. Its courtyard garden bursts with olive trees and lavender bushes.

Broad skylights flood the bar with light by day. Come evening, locals gather for a pint. Nooks with low-slung lights and chinks of stained glass are havens for kicking back and unwinding with a paper at any hour.

Chefs have great bonds with local suppliers like Jim, who supplies Old Spot pork, and Roger the artisanal cheesemaker. The menu, devised by executive chef Tom Blake, shows seasonal West Country cooking at its best, from multi-course feasts to simple snacks. Sample a Devon crab cake with harissa and coriander yoghurt, stuffed pork belly with salsa verde, or a wood-fired pizza topped with Roger’s White Lake pecorino. If staying in one of the eight elegant rooms, you'll rave about the breakfast.