Hole in the Wall

It’s scarcely a stone’s throw from the madness of the A4, but this low-key bolthole is a deliciously relaxing pub. Behind a mock-Tudor exterior, the duck-egg blue walls, leather sofas (by the TV) & elderly rugs on bare floorboards have a soothing effect. Locals chat at the bar, pints of London Pride or Doom Bar in hand, before heading for the adjacent dining area or the garden out back. The menu changes often, although the overall pattern remains much the same: appealing starters such as duck, beetroot & French bean salad are followed by mains aimed at hungry regulars who fancy a feed of coq au vin or a relaxed dish of baked sea bass with mussels & clams. Sunday roasts & decent bar snacks are added attractions.