The Times - UK (2021-12-18)

the times Saturday December 18 2021

2Weekend

menu includes a warming dish of

harissa roasted lamb shoulder with root

vegetables and rosemary new potatoes.

Details 01362 705024;

thebrisleybell.co.uk

The White Hart

South Harting, West Sussex

This charming village inn is set among

beautiful countryside in the South

Downs National Park, close to the South

Downs Way. Inside there are rustic

whitewashed stone walls, comfy leather

armchairs and cosy open fires. There are

real ales on draft as well as local

sparkling wine from Hampshire. The

menu of updated pub classics might

include ale-braised beef blade with white

bean and root vegetable cassoulet. Open

over Christmas and New Year.

Details 01730 825124; the-whitehart.co.uk

The Lamp and Whistle

Penzance, Cornwall

Tucked away on a corner a few roads

up from the harbour, this tiny pub is

a cosy yet cool place to escape to for a

few hours over the festive season. It has

bags of style and a unique atmosphere,

with an ornate carved wooden bar,

a ceiling covered in framed paintings

and an eclectic indie-rock soundtrack

to accompany a dizzying range of

craft beers and ales, including many

local brews.

Details 01736 366412

The Three Chimneys

Biddenden, Kent

This 15th-century half-timbered village

inn with rooms is set in Kentish

countryside surrounded by green fields

and the county’s distinctive cone-roofed

oast houses. Inside there are nooks and

crannies, dark oak beams, aged hops, an

open fire and a range of locally brewed

ales behind the bar.

Details 01580 291472;

thethreechimneys.co.uk

The Wild Rabbit

Kingham, Oxfordshire

Warm yourself up at this Cotswolds

pub with a seasonal cocktail made

with ingredients foraged from the

surrounding hedgerows and

the market garden at Daylesford —

perhaps a Roasted Chestnut, which

mixes Scotch whisky, Calvados,

chestnut syrup and walnut. This pub

has been elegantly fitted out by the

owner, Carole Bamford (of Daylesford

Organic fame), in stone, wood and

leather, and has a highly rated dining

The Black Bull

Sedbergh, Cumbria

Settle into a corner booth by the huge
log-burner at this acclaimed Yorkshire
Dales gastropub, a former 17th-century
coaching inn that’s set on the high
street of the small market town of
Sedbergh. Savour a pint of
northern-brewed beer before taking
a break from standard seasonal fare
with chef Nina Matsunaga, who fuses
east and west in dishes such as locally
reared Mansergh Hall pork belly served
with lo bak go (Chinese turnip cake)
and mustard seed.
Details 01539 620264;
theblackbullsedbergh.co.uk

The Unruly Pig

Bromeswell, nr

Woodbridge,

Suffolk

With its log-burner
fires, candlelight,
comfortable leather
chairs and exposed
beams, this handsome
16th-century red-brick inn
is the perfect rural destination
for a relaxing festive pint of
hand-pulled ale. It has a menu that
offers an alternative to usual Christmas
fare, with dishes such as venison tartare,
or wild mallard with caramelised salsify,
sprout tops and damson.
Details 01394 460310; theunrulypig.co.uk

The Fox at Corscombe

Corscombe, Dorset

This 17th-century grade II listed
thatched pub is set in a small village
among unspoilt Dorset countryside in
an area of outstanding natural beauty.
It’s an ideal spot in which to while away
a few peaceful hours over the festive
season. Have a pint in the snug in front
of the open log fire with a bar snack of
Korean fried pheasant with chilli and
coriander, or enjoy a full three-course
meal of celebrity chef Mark Hix’s local,
seasonal cooking in the dining room,
with dishes such as Bellair Haye
bangers from Bridport with colcannon
and onion gravy.
Details 01935 317555;
thefoxinncorscombe.co.uk

The Oarsman

Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Take a stroll around Marlow’s town
centre, enjoying its independent shops
and Christmas lights, then head to
the snug of this recently opened pub
and bistro with its jolly decorations,
brick open fireplace and red leather
corner booths. There are craft beers
on tap, a list of more than 300 wines,
and bar snacks including braised beef
croquettes. Head to the dining room
for high-quality seasonal modern

British dishes such as roast loin of

venison, braised red cabbage, pear and

blue cheese.

Details 01628 617755; theoarsman.co.uk

Red Lion at Hinxton

Hinxton, Cambridgeshire

This characterful grade II listed

16th-century inn, set in a conservation

village, has low ceilings, a wooden

floor, Chesterfield sofas and an open

fire. There’s a range of hand-pumped

local real ales and more than 50 wines

to choose from.

Details 01799 530601;

redlionhinxton.co.uk

The Churchill

Arms

Kensington,

London

Nowhere embodies

the festive spirit

quite like this

eccentric three-storey

pub adorned with

80 Christmas trees hung

with 22,000 fairy lights.

Inside is no less quirky, with

every available inch of the dark

wood-panelled interior hung with

Churchill memorabilia and bric-a-brac,

including a collection of chamber pots.

The menu of authentic Thai dishes

provides a welcome contrast to rich

festive fare.

Details 020 7727 4242;

churchillarmskensington.co.uk

The Brisley Bell

Dereham, Norfolk

Named pub of the year at the 2021

Great British Pub awards, this historic

rural inn with rooms overlooks the

village common. Inside, the cosy bar

features an open fire, comfortable

leather sofas and chairs and the

all-important dartboard, along with

a range of cask-conditioned ales and

local guest beers. The modern British

Fancy a quick drink? The 31

Roaring fires? Wood-beamed ceilings?

Hand-pulled ales? Andy Lynes

picks his top winter favourites

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The Fox at Corscombe, Dorset

The White Hart, South

Harting, West Sussex

Christmas special