Esther Jackson

A truly remote hotel pub, set in the North Wessex Downs (a spot recognised as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), the Pheasant is a genuinely stunning property. Located at the crossroads between the south coast and the Cotswolds – easily accessible off the M4 – this place might make you totally reconsider your preconceptions about Young’s, the chain of pubs and hotels. Generic this certainly is not. The staff affectionately refer to the area as the Valley of the Racers, due to its horsey heritage. Inside, walls are adorned with black-and-white photos of local horse trainers, the bathroom corridors are full of framed flamboyant racer jackets, and countless (often huge) equestrian paintings hang throughout the property. I’m a bit of a stickler for decent hotel décor (I’ve lost many hours scrolling through booking sites, unable to confirm somewhere to stay because the furnishings are too weird, too tired or too dated) and I enjoyed all of the horse paraphernalia. It’s got a theme but it’s not tacky. There’s robust farmhouse furniture, wicker baskets, gigantic glass candle holders and oversized ceramic lamps emitting fuzzy glows that compliment the open fireplace. The rooms feature plush headboards, heavy black-out Lewis and Wood-designed curtains to induce that high quality shut-eye that every parent craves, plus a deep-pile mattress (perfect for kids that like to bounce) and what felt like 1,000-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. And of course, it was also kitted out with