A 16th-century pub in a 13th-century village, The Castle is as attractive as it sounds – a stately, honey-stone coaching inn on the banks of the winding river Wenning. The pub lost its magic a
while back, but the Ledsham family stepped in with a rescue package that has brought it up to scratch. Jayne Ledsham is an antiques dealer and many of her treasures have found their way into the
big, airy bar – think battered travel trunks, art deco mirrors and leather club chairs. The kitchen offers a wide-ranging menu featuring affordable pub classics, local meats and game, although the
tilt is towards Italy with paninis, pasta and pizzas – kids will love it here. For the grown-ups, well-kept beers include Lancaster Blonde and Black Sheep bitter, while 10 wines by the glass start
at £3.75.