Imagine the dream dining pub: a creative chef crafts sublime dishes; its own farm supplies the homegrown, reared and foraged produce; and an innovative drinks line-up utilises handcrafted cordials and own-infused spirits. And it’s all complemented by accommodation that mixes vintage glamour with modern luxury.

A visit to The Farmers Arms (part of The Collective at Woolsery, a curation of village enterprises from tech entrepreneurs Michael and Xochi Birch) turns this wishlist into reality.

Dine in any of the three beautifully rustic dining rooms, or bag a table in the garden courtyard to feast alfresco on head chef Toby Neal’s reinterpretations of British classics. If visiting for a special occasion, the Potting Shed on the pub’s own Birch Farm is a delightful spot for a private field-to-fork dining experience.

Own-reared heritage-breed lamb and pork are notable highlights on a menu that’s elevated further by daily picked veg, fruit and herbs from the farm and gardens. On Sundays, plump for a family-style lunch to gorge on a waistband-stretching smorgasbord of roast favourites such as Exmoor beef brisket, indulgent cauliflower cheese and proper yorkshire puddings.

Trencherman’s tip

The Times cited The Collective at Woolsery as one of the top 100 places to stay in the UK in 2024. Choose from one of the gorgeous suites or rooms above the village shop or push the boat out with a few nights in one of three luxe cottages.