The Peat Spade, Hampshire

Overview

Unusual lozenge-paned windows overlook the peaceful village lane and idyllic thatched cottages at this striking, redbrick and gabled Victorian pub that nestles in the heart of the beautiful Test Valley, only 100 yards from the famous trout stream.

Step inside to find a relaxing yet classy country inn with a small, uncluttered bar offering excellent Upham ales and cosy fishing and shooting themed dining rooms. Expect church candles and jugs of flowers on rustic dining tables, gilt mirrors and country prints on the walls, and log fires crackling on wild winter days.

Seasonal menus list classic English food and there are nine cosy bedrooms, while shooters love the upstairs private dining room. The super rear terrace makes an ideal spot for a refreshing drink or alfresco meal or a wood-fired pizza from the oven following a summer evening stroll. It's just as short drive through the glorious Test Valley to Mottisfont Abbey (NT), famous for it's stunning walled rose garden, and the pub is the perfect base for fisher-folk and a convenient pit-stop for walkers hiking the Test Way long-distance path.

Rooms from

Doubles and twins: £100

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Disabled access
Alfresco and private dining
Parking available
Dog stay: £20 (1 night); £10 (2+ nights)

Water and waves
The Peat Spade is a stone's throw from Hampshire's finest chalk stream, the River Test.

Outdoor adventures
Allow time to follow the trails from the village to Danebury Hillfort for stunning downland views.

Family favourite
Children are very welcome with smaller portions and highchairs are available. Some of the rooms can accommodate an extra bed, too.

A touch of culture
Explore the galleries and independent shops in Stockbridge and it's just a 10-mile drive to Winchester, famous for its cathedral, colleage and watermeadows.

Rooms

Book well ahead as the inn's rooms prove particularly popular with shooting parties, walkers and fishing folk.

All rooms have big wooden beds decorated in earthy greens and red hues, along with country prints and antique furnishings. Add crisp linen, colourful woollen throws, deep easy chairs and fresh, tiled bathrooms, and you have the perfect blend of country comfort meets contemporary chic.

Fresh coffee, a flask of milk and homemade biscuits are welcome extras on arrival. Wake up to a hearty breakfast, then walk the Test Way into Stockbridge. If you fancy fly-fishing, a day with a ghillie on the Test can be arranged for you along with a picnic hamper provided for lunch.

Restaurant & bar

Sourcing as much local produce as possible, the kitchen offers a short yet satisfying menu which changes with the seasons.

With game and fruit coming from the Leckford Estate, there's plenty of delicious options including scallops, cauliflower puree, pancetta crisp and red wine vingerette; ale braised featherblade of beef, mash, seasonal greens and lardons; short rib burger, smoked cheese, bacon, house relish and fries; and classic fish pie. There are good deserts too, perhaps pear, blackberry & frangipane tart, as well as a decent cheese board selection. Don't miss the excellent Sunday roast lunches, perfect after a Test Way ramble.

Snacks are served all day in the cosy bar, and to drink, sup a pint of local ale or explore the short, well-chosen list of wines from Berry Bros & Rudd , with 13 by the glass.

Things to do

You're not too far from the majestic Salisbury Cathedral here, which boasts the tallest spire in the country. Immortalised in John Constable's famous painting Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows from 1831, you'll feel like you've stepped into a romantic painting - don't miss the original copy of the Magna Carta.

Don't miss 12th-century former Augustinian priory, Mottisfont Abbey, now a beautiful house and garden. Managed by the National Trust, Mottisfont includes a drawing room decorated by Rex Whistler and a superb walled garden containing one of the finest collections of roses in the country, with a tributary of the Test flowing prettily through the grounds.

When exploring charming Stockbridge, don't miss Wine Utopia, a well-stocked wine merchants a few doors down from the inn. With hundreds of top quality and great value wines from across the world, as well as from small producers and estates, its a great pitstop for any vino aficionados.