Butchers Arms

Cosy, 17th century village pub with restaurant area, furnished in traditional, country style. The pub has fish nights on Wednesday, and runs quiz and darts teams. Quoits is played. Heated foot rest at the bar and a wood-burning stove. Several ghosts reported. Its inn sign, a painted three-dimensional carving of a butcher quaffing ale while tethered to a pig, is world famous. It is thought butchering went on here when Henry VIII hunted deer in the valley. In 2014 the lean-to outdoor toilets metamorphosed into a new bar, seamlessly executed in reclaimed stone and Welsh oak. This complements a quality inter-war refurbishment that added the generous bay windows and porch. The forecourt tables and sloping side garden are suntraps in summer - with spectacular views from the tables on the steep grass behind the pub. It is worth a walk to the bizarre sloping village cricket ground, where the batsman cannot see the bowler running up until he is almost at the wicket.