Dog

Carefully refurbished old inn with plenty of room for eating and drinking, first class food, local ales, friendly staff and seats on terrace; bedrooms

The hands-on, hard-working licensees have refurbished this medieval inn with care and thought, blending contemporary touches with heavy beams and old brickwork. The carpeted bar has a woodburning stove in an inglenook fireplace with armchairs grouped in front of it, more armchairs against the walls, a cushioned window seat, dog motifs on the back of leather chairs and a white-painted piano; dotted around are fabric dogs, dog cartoons and prints on grey paintwork, pub games and daily papers. Swivelling wooden stools line the counter where they keep Harveys Best and Shepherd Neame Master Brew and Whitstable Bay on handpump and nice wines by the glass; background music. One part of the dining room has metal and animal-hide chairs and upholstered wall banquettes around wooden tables on wide floorboards, a few animal-hide stools by the bar and an open fire. The airy second dining area has a woodburning stove, high-backed tartan or leather chairs around more tables on flagstones and plants on windowsills. Outside on the terrace are grey or white up-to-date chairs and tables and a gazebo. They have eight stylish, well equipped and individually styled bedrooms and breakfasts are particularly good.