Matching its flower-festooned Victorian exterior, large garden and kids’ play area with a handsome, wood-panelled bar and popular dining room, this Swan is no ugly duckling – in fact it’s rated as “the best gastropub in the area” by some punters, with a terrific atmosphere to boot. The boozy part caters admirably to local needs, offering a batch of three cask ales and an appealing selection of moderately priced wines, while foodies lap up the contents of a gutsy Mediterranean-influenced menu that “always includes a North African option” (perhaps roasted red pepper and aubergine couscous with goats’ cheese). Otherwise, you might begin with moules marinière or confit duck terrine with plum compote before tackling rolled Gloucester Old Spot pork belly with borlotti beans and salsa verde or pan-fried sea bass with mousserons and samphire. Sunday lunches are especially popular with families, who drop by to feast on hearty roasts followed by, say, strawberry tart or blueberry mess with pistachios.