The Candlelight Inn

Landlords Simon and Mike abandoned their high-flying management jobs in banking to take on the Candlelight Inn on the Devon–Somerset border. It was a gargantuan career leap, but they knew what they were doing. Camped in the stunning Blackdown Hills, it’s a beautiful country pub – flint walls, beamed ceilings and inviting fireplaces – that’s been given a chic makeover, and is just moments away from the A303. The welcome is hospitable and informal and staff clearly enjoy being part of the team. The crowd of locals at the bar in the evenings is proof of the convivial atmosphere.

There’s a romance to the dining room, with candles (obviously) on every table and a blazing fireplace, while still being ‘dog and welly friendly’. Many ingredients for the impressive plates are sourced from the garden outside, the countryside around and the fresh catch down at Lyme Regis, so you can expect anything from pea and wild garlic mousse to cod fillet with crispy mussels and pork chops with stuffed mushrooms. The range of very local ciders is also very tempting – non-drivers should try them out.