Shibden Mill Inn

Just a mile from the busy centre of Halifax, this glorious wisteria-clad 17th-century inn hunkers down in the bottom of a lush green valley; in summer months you can sit and sip in the peaceful garden with just the babbling brook as a backdrop. Inside, expect gleaming antique oak settles and dressers, roaring fires and the daily papers, plus an inventive menu featuring local and seasonal produce. Hand-raised Shibden pork-and-black-pudding pie with piccalilli, watercress and crackling salad is suitably creative starter, while mains might include poached and roasted saddle of Todmorden rabbit pointed up with air-dried ham, pearl barley risotto, seasonal wild mushrooms and rabbit-leg pie. To finish, forget about post-prandial walks if you’re intent on Norwood Green rhubarb soufflé with vanilla-and-custard trifle. A classy joint all round.