The Cricketers, Clavering, Essex

Clavering is a large and pleasant rural Essex village, near to the market towns of Saffron Walden and Bishops Stortford.

The Cricketers isn't too far from the M11 and Stansted airport.

By car: under 1 hour 30 minutes from London, 45 minutes from Cambridge and over 2 hours from Birmingham. Free on-site parking available.

By train: London Liverpool Street to Colchester takes around 1 hour, after which a taxi takes 10 minutes. Book trains to Colchester.

The Cricketers is a gastropub - more about food than drink, and with a number of stylish boutique rooms. With its cosy, pubby style, you can't help but feel at home.

The service is great throughout and the pub remains staffed by much of the team from the old days of Trevor and Sally Oliver (parents of celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver), who love the pub and know it inside-out.

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Terrace
• Family rooms
• Free parking
• Free Wi-Fi

Extremely pet-friendly, with dog beds, bowls and treats provided - as well as a doggie menu.

Bigger than many comparable village inns, with 22 rooms. The Pavilion and Willows rooms have super-king-size beds and spacious bathrooms with walk-in showers and baths. All rooms have Freeview TVs, tea, coffee and water, and homemade biscuits.

Room types: Good, Better, Best

Key amenities: ensuite bathroom, tea and coffee-making facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi

The food is unashamedly pub-style food, featuring British classics. The pub still has the Olivers' old pizza oven, which is used for the slow-cooked lamb, veggie wellington and various other roasts. The pies are also delicious.

The restaurant: Modern Bistro dining, including grilled sea bream and summer garden risotto. Open daily 11am-11pm. Mains from £17.50.