Can a good pub sell a country house?
A good pub within walking distance is on most buyers’ wish lists and can even uphold an area’s value. But what makes the perfect village pub? Arabella Youens investigates.
Restaurants and pubs
From cosy inns and pubs to the smartest places in town, Country Life reviews the very best pubs and restaurants across the country. From pre-theatre dining in London to the best places to eat in The Cotswolds, Country Life reviews the best restauraunts in the country regularly.
-
-
Alan Titchmarsh: The 'Hollywood A-listers' of the plant world are fussy, flouncy — and totally irresistible
Alan Titchmarsh waxes lyrical about the benefits of bulbs, and why disposing of them year on year might not be the environmental sin that it seems.
-
Revealed: The most dog-friendly pubs in Britain
Looking for a place to take your pet? The winners of the Rover Most Dog-Friendly Pub of the Year awards have just been announced.
-
The Bell at Stow: A beautiful bolthole full of Cotswolds charm, masterfully combining a rustic pub and a stunning boutique hotel
Alexandra Fraser continues her tour around the British countryside and discovers a hidden gem.
-
Margot, Covent Garden restaurant review: A delight from carpaccio to tiramisu, plus a recipe for their venison tortellini
Dinner in London can sometimes be a bit of a rush, but it's worth taking the time to enjoy Margot to its fullest, as Alexandra Fraser discovered on a visit to Margot.
-
Church Road restaurant review: A Barnes landmark re-born, and set to become a destination for foodies
Mark Hedges wasn't happy when one of his favourite local restaurants closed its doors earlier this year — but its replacement has him beaming from ear to ear.
-
Why brunch has made a comeback, and the best places to enjoy it in London
Put down your wellies – the countryside weekend has been abandoned in favour of urban brunch plans. Debora Robertson investigates what the meal has done to our weekend and how to host your own in style.
-
The best pubs in Britain for 2020 have been named — and the top two are within a few minutes of each other
The North-Western county has triumphed in the latest Good Pub Guide awards, with local pubs taking two top spots and two shortlisted places
-
11 of the finest afternoon teas around Britain, from the Ritz to the Cornish hotel that inspired Wind in the Willows
Claire Jackson makes her choices, from the household-name London hotels to options further afield.
-
The Christian Dior afternoon tea at The Franklin: 'Monsieur Dior himself would surely have approved'
A Christian Dior-themed afternoon tea around the corner from the V&A makes a perfect accompaniment to the museum's enormously successful exhibition, as Rosie Paterson discovered.
-
Country Life's guide to what makes a British pub great
More than 70 years after George Orwell penned the famous essay on his favourite pub, The Moon Under Water, its key attributes still hold true, finds Flora Watkins. Photographs by Mark Williamson.
-
Five of the finest afternoon teas in London
Alexandra Fraser rounds up some of the most unique and tasty afternoon teas available in the capital this summer, from sky-high scones to fashion-forward finger sandwiches.
-
Fifty Cheyne restaurant review: 'The emphasis is on sharing, big meals and coming together... and long may it last'
-
The Petersham Covent Garden restaurant review: No egos, no theatrics, just sublime ingredients and confident cooking
The famous hidden gem that is the Petersham Nurseries restaurant in Richmond recently opened a new place in central London. Jade Bousfield paid a visit.
-
The Banquet of Hoshena: A night out for dinner with side-dishes of art, magic and storytelling
When is a meal not a meal? When it involves five courses, five cocktails and a generous helping of art and magic. Alexandra Fraser paid a visit to the Banquet of Hoshena to experience erring kings, talking tables and mystical lands in need of rescue.
-
HOME, Leeds: A restaurant with authenticity, passion and homespun touches — and how to make one of their finest dishes
Mary Miers visited HOME, a Leeds restaurant with authenticity, passion and homespun touches — and also found out how to make one of their finest dishes.
-
The Oak SW11: How to make the signature dish from one of London's new breed of smart neighbourhood restaurants
There was a time not so long ago when, outside the centre of London, it was all but impossible to find truly decent restaurants within the M25. Rosie Paterson paid a visit to The Oak, an SW11 restaurant which proves that those days are long gone.
-
Roux at Parliament Square review: A peaceful retreat from the surrounding environs with presentation almost as wondrous at the food itself
-
The Utterly Inessential Shopping List: Gifts to make him fall at your feet, a delightful decanter and all the Valentine's experiences a happy heart could hope for
The chill of February is ill-fated to be accompanied by a day dedicated to those lucky few among us who succeeded in surviving the stress of the festive season. It is for this group of people that we present a collection of utterly inessential products and experiences with which to say "I love you". For the rest of you, we recommend gin.
-
Tom’s Kitchen review: Ferocious chefs, ferociously good food
Tom Aikens is one of the most talented chefs in Britain – but probably also one of the loudest, as James Fisher warns after a visit to Tom's Kitchen.
