Cock

Imaginative food in pretty pub with extensive wine list, four interesting beers, a bustling atmosphere and a smart restaurant

Many of our readers count this excellent pub as their favourite, and we can quite understand why they do as it's pretty much faultless in all aspects. Lucky Cambridgeshire. One feature we particularly like in a place that serves first class food is that they've sensibly kept the public bar (on the left) for drinking only: an open woodburning stove on a raised hearth, bar stools, wall seats and a carver, and steps leading down to more seating. Adnams Southwold, Brewsters Hophead and Oldershaw Grantham Stout on handpump, 22 wines by the glass mainly from the Languedoc-Roussillon region, 15 gins (one very local) and Cromwell cider (made in the village). Other bar rooms have white-painted or dark beams and lots of contemporary pale yellow and cream paintwork, church candles, artworks here and there, and a really attractive mix of old wooden dining chairs, settles and tables. In marked contrast, the stylishly rustic restaurant on the right (you must book to be sure of a table) is set for dining, with pale wooden floorboards and another woodburning stove. There are seats and tables among stone troughs and flowers on the terrace and in the neat garden, and pretty hanging baskets. Disabled access. This is a delightful village on the River Ouse. Sister pubs are the Crown & Punchbowl at Horningsea, Three Horseshoes in Madingley and Tickell Arms in Whittlesford (all in Cambridgeshire).