The Three Hills, Cambridgeshire

Overview

Rescued in 2018, the striking 17th century Grade II listed inn has been beautifully restored into a cool rural bolthole within easy reach of Newmarket and Cambridge.

At the heart of the tiny estate village, this former alehouse stands close to the walls of Bartlow Park, boasting stylish interiors, inventive food and six cosy rooms. Beams abound in the stylish bar with its tiled floor, chapel chairs at wooden tables and soothing blue hues. Arrive early in winter to bag the seats by the inglenook fire or the blazing wood-burner.

The adjoining Library has a smart country-house feel and is a great place for perusing the papers with a pint of Wherry. Or, enjoy a tipple before dinner in the Orangery dining room, a light-filled contemporary dining space with a high-vaulted ceiling and windows overlooking the terrace and open fields. On warmer days make the most of the fabulous patio (covered, heated and lit in winter) and beautiful landscaped garden, replete with a vast wooden table for communal dining. Emma Harrison oversees a great team - expect friendly and efficient service.

Rooms from

6 doubles: £100

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Alfresco & private dining
Disabled access
Weddings
Parking available
Dog stay (annexe rooms & flat): £10

Family favourite
Children are very welcome in the pub until 9pm, and kid-friendly portions are available.

Dog-friendly
Four-legged friends are allowed in the bar and library, and overnight in the annexe bedrooms and the flat.

Outdoor adventures
Between Newmarket and King's Lynn lies some of East Anglia's most isolated fen country, which is great for exploring on foot and by bike.

Rooms

Split between the pub and the beautiful refurbished annexe are six super-comfortable rooms and a well-equipped two-bedroom flat that sleeps five.

The two rooms and flat above the pub are spacious and offer period charm with exposed beams, whilst those in the annexe are more compact and cosy. All are individually decorated with a simple, cool and contemporary design.

Think soothing warm colours, painted furniture, modern artwork and pocket-sprung mattresses topped with Hungarian goose down duvets and pillows. Added extras include fresh flowers, a Roberts radio, a Nespresso machine, Samsung televisions and swish wet-room style bathrooms with walk-in showers, thick towels and White Company toiletries. Upper rooms in the annex enjoy views across the village and surrounding paddocks.

Restaurant & bar

Exciting menus range from pub classics with a modern twist served in the bar to a great value set two-course lunch menu and a short, inventive and well thought out evening menu that offers some interesting ingredient and flavour combinations.

Dishes evolve with the seasons and make sound use of the rich larder on the doorstep, including game and venison from surrounding estates. In the bar you can tuck into an excellent pheasant and redcurrant scotch egg with your pint, or for something more substantial - perhaps try the hearty and warming chicken and wild mushroom pie. Delicious dishes at dinner and great Sunday roasts too. To drink, there are four ales, a raft of boutique spirits, and a select wine list with good tasting notes (13 by the glass).

Private dining

The beautifully designed covered and heated patio is a fabulous alfresco dining space seating up to 84 guests - perfect for summer weddings and family celebrations. At other times, the Orangery is transformed into private dining room for intimate gatherings of up to 48 seated guests (80 buffet style).

Things to do

Calling all ballooning enthusiasts! Wizard Balloons fly in small, intimate groups from the launch site at Nowton Park near Bury St Edmunds, typically between March to October. Expect stunning scenery and staggering views - not for the faint-hearted!

Close to Bury St Edmunds, the National Trust property of Ickworth's spectacular Rotunda was commissioned by the 4th Earl of Bristol to house his priceless artefacts collected on tours around Europe in the 18th century. The Italianate garden includes box hedges and Mediterranean planting - so it's a must for garden lovers too.

Finally, those with a passion for portraiture should head to the fascinating Gainsborough House. The museum and art gallery stands in the centre of the market town of Sudbury and is probably most famous as the birthplace of the eighteenth-century portrait artist Thomas Gainsborough. Dating back to 1520, the house has many striking features as well as various Gainsborough paintings and portraits.