Courtyard Café at Hartley Antiques

A lovely mid-way stop if travelling between London and Southampton, the Courtyard Café is tucked away at the back of an antiques shop in the historic village of Hartley Wintney. Something of a hidden haven, it serves fresh, high-quality food made with the best local ingredients. Enjoy a slice of the chef’s artful cakes (think gluten-free blueberry and vanilla cake decorated with fresh flowers) or treat yourself to a healthy breakfast of waffles with berries or some homemade granola.

The garden room's glass doors slide back to reveal a flourishing courtyard where fountains trickle and birds nest. A gate gives onto the village green, where owner Laura recommends taking a turn with restless babes to lull them to sleep. The lunch menu changes along with the seasons but you can imagine delights such as parmesan and truffle gnocchi, saffron trout fillet or well-stuffed sandwiches, enhanced with a civilised glass of wine. A real gourmet stop.