King John Inn

A charming Wiltshire inn that blends style, tradition and fabulous food in equal measures

The King John Inn is a building with a past. Constructed in 1859, the ivy-clad, red-brick property was originally a Victorian coaching inn, and remains a focal point for the local community of Tollard Royal, a picturesque hamlet on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. When Alex and Gretchen rescued the near-derelict property in 2008, they had a seriously daunting job on their hands - but after a 8-month renovation, they've produced a stylish yet relaxed inn with rooms.

Set just off the main lane, the entrance gives way to a bustling pub-restaurant. Ramblers and their dogs rub shoulders with locals (including Guy Ritchie, who's a regular) and the vibe is country kitchen meets city gastro pub. Decor is simply elegant - herbs in earthenware pots sit on scrubbed pine tables, black and white hunting prints adorn the walls - but it's the food that's the real draw. Locally sourced meats, fish and cheeses, accompanied by excellent wines (Alex is a wine merchant, and has a shop on-site, too).

Add 8 comfortable and stylish rooms to the mix, and you've found the perfect base for a weekend of outdoor pursuits. Tollard Royal is surrounded by magnificent countryside, and hunting aficionados flock to the area each autumn for the beginning of the season.

Highs

• The picturesque rural setting; hike, horse ride or stroll through fields and vast country estates
• The comfortable rooms provide the right dose of luxury without being fussy
• The pretty tiered garden catches the last of the evening’s rays and is the perfect place to enjoy a pre-dinner drink
• The deliciously fresh food - Cornish mussels, wood pigeon salad, crab tortellini and an infamous cheese souffle
• The service was faultless and nothing was too much trouble for the friendly waiting staff and owners

Lows

• Situated on a roadside, although there's not much traffic at night
• In the coach house annexe, room 8 has a rather low ceiling and room 7 looks onto the car park so lacks privacy. But both rooms are nice and quiet
• The restaurant can get busy at weekends, especially Sunday lunchtimes, and there aren't many vegetarian dishes
• If you have a strong anti-hunting stance, you'll hate the black-and-white hunting prints on the wall, and the local support of the sport
• There are no shops in the village however you are close to Shaftesbury which is great for some retail therapy