Anna & Adam Cordery’s rustic, homely pub, a stone’s throw from the River Meon, is the antithesis of a themed-up, all-day drinking den. With its mismatched chairs & tables, beaten leather sofas & fireplaces, it exudes real confidence, charm & infectious personable warmth. The kitchen, headed by Adam & Richard Harrison (with CVs taking in the Fat Duck & Le Gavroche), is resolutely seasonal & draws on ingredients available on Droxford’s doorstep. The daily-changing blackboard menu spans eveything from faggots to apple crumble; local pigeon appears in a salad with walnut dressing, sausages from locally reared Gloucester Old Spot pigs are served with shallot gravy, while partridge is partnered by roasted plums & bread sauce. In all, this is a masterclass in how to run a country dining pub. Pleasing wines & affable service cap it all off.