Located in the tiny village of Guiting Power, The Hollow Bottom was a gastro pub before most country inns in the area had even heard of the word. The exceptional food, sourced locally (this is very important to co-owners Hugh Kelly and Charlie Pettigrew, a former Scottish Young Chef of the Year) includes pub classics such as fish and chips, steak & kidney pub and Sunday roasts (which are legendary at The Hollow Bottom), as well as more restauranty fare – tapas, pizza and chef’s specials (haunch of venison, duck breast, salmon fillet). But what sets The Hollow Bottom apart is that while the food is restaurant quality, you still feel like you’re in a pub and you can just pop in for a pint.

It also has a rather special beer garden where you can take that pint, modelled on Hugh’s favourite beach bar in the south of France. Decked and with a sunken fire pit, boules pitch and ‘beach hut’ bar, it’s the perfect summer hangout, and come winter the covers come on and it’s transformed into a fantabulous party and wedding venue.

If you’re on your travels, you can also stay at the pub in one of the five, four star-rated rooms (your hound will also be welcome). But if you’re a local and have had one too many, The Hollow Bottom bus will drive your safely home, for free! (Not all the way back to say Cheltenham though, people, a five mile radius only!)