As the winter nights draw in, we reveal ten of the cosiest pubs in Britain
You can forget about the wintry weather outside and even treat yourself to a lock-in by staying the night
AS the nights draw in, there’s nothing better than heading to a country pub where you can cosy up beside a roaring log fire with a glass of wine.
Here, PETE BELL shares ten of the best pubs in Britain where you can forget about the wintry weather outside – and even treat yourself to a lock-in by staying the night.
SITUATED in the tiny hamlet of Newton-in-Bowland right in the middle of the wild Lancashire countryside, The Parkers Arms is not easy to stumble across.
But the former coach house is worth finding.
The bar is old school with a couple of open fires, a fine selection of ales and wines, and a great menu full of local produce and Lancashire dishes.
It is famous for its fantastic Sunday roasts.
There are four rooms with views of the Trough of Bowland’s fells and rivers, so it’s worth staying overnight to take advantage of the countryside as well as the great food and drink.
Doubles cost from £90 including breakfast. See .
WITHIN easy reach of the gorgeous coastal path lies St Mary’s Inn.
It has two fireplaces, great food and even brews its own craft ale.
The pub’s festive menu is available until Christmas Eve and you can dine in one of the fireside snugs or the dining room.
Main courses include roast turkey, sea trout and harissa spiced winter squash.
Prices start from £13.50 for one course, £18.50 for two and £22.50 for three courses.
The inn has 11 bedrooms with iron bedsteads and antique furniture and one of them has a terrace.
Rates during the festive season start from £100 per room on a B&B basis. See .
THIS 18th century, family-run coaching inn is right on the edge of Sherwood Forest.
There are two seperate public bars, both with beamed roofs and cosy log fires.
They serve the best of the local ales and there’s a restaurant in a barn at the back of the building serving a range from adventurous European cuisine to solid British grub.
You can go karting, paint-balling and mountain biking or golfing nearby.
Or, fittingly for Sherwood Forest, you can try your hand at archery.
Rooms cost from £80 for a double with breakfast. See .
A former watermill turned coaching inn, this pub has a log fire to keep you cosy, six en-suite rooms and another housed in the old stable yard.
The AA rosette restaurant has hearty pub fayre, plus fish, game and traditional English and Mediterranean dishes.
Nearby Petworth House has a 700-acre deer park landscaped by Capability Brown and all four of the mansion’s state rooms are currently dressed for an Italianate Christmas Masquerade.
Rooms at Halfway Bridge start from £49 per person, including breakfast. See .
THIS bijou gem, ten minutes from Canterbury, combines the cosy charm of a traditional pub with 21st century touches.
Sheepskins soften traditional benches while sexy-red barstools add modern colour to a pub known for its classic cooking that champions local suppliers.
The four beautiful rooms are a delight with high-end retro chic furnishings as well as king-size beds and flat-screen TVs.
Prices from start from £100 per night including breakfast.
See or call 01227 721 308.
THE perfect base from which to explore the Dales and the Forest of Bowland, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The pub has seven bedrooms and a great bar, with its real ales changing regularly.
The restaurant serves local, seasonal food with the occasional continental twist – Yorkshire chorizo regularly features.
Stainforth Force, a small natural waterfall, is within hiking distance.
Time it right and you’ll see leaping salmon.
A midweek nights’ B&B for two with a two-course dinner is from £99 per room.
See craven-arms-.
A TRADITIONAL 16th century coaching inn in the village of Levens on edge of the Lake District.
The four refurbished en-suite rooms reflect the pub’s historic past and all have great views over the surrounding countryside.
As a freehouse, there is a host of Cumbrian ales on tap and the food is unfussy but well turned out and includes hand-rolled pizzas, burgers, grills and steak pies.
Rooms start from £85 a night. To book, see or call 01539 560004.
RIGHT in the middle of the village, the Inn at the Sticks has great views of the castle.
It reopened this year after an extensive renovation.
The pub serves tasty food made using local produce – tuck into potted meats, rarebit, fresh fish and Welsh cheeses.
The Wales Coastal Path is close by, as is the beach, so it is easy to explore the dramatic coastline.
There are five en-suite rooms which start from £90 a night on a B&B basis.
See or call 01267 241066.
COSY up in front of the fire and take advantage of locally sourced winter menus and lovely rooms.
This winter, the inn plays host to the Talk of Wells events.
A fascinating line-up of speakers includes British Paralympian show jumper, Susi Rogers-Hartley.
Enjoy a talk and two-couse menu with a glass of wine from £22 (£5 goes to charity).
Stay in one of seven luxurious en-suite bedrooms, each designed in a contemporary style.
A double room is from £110 per night.
See or call 01328 710206.
YEALMPTON is a beautiful Devon village in the South Hams, seven miles east of Plymouth.
The Rose and Crown is owned by the St Austell Brewery so expect decent beer.
Traditional pub-style food is on offer in the restaurant, as well as contemporary cuisine.
There are eight en-suite bedrooms in a three-storey house next door.
Rooms start at £75 per night.
Get 25 per cent off when you stay two nights or more in December by quoting “AUTUMN25”. See or call 01752 880223.