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The Cartford Inn, Lancashire

Not your usual pub with rooms, The Cartford Inn near Preston is in one sense a charming 17th-century riverside inn known for its picturesque location and delicious food, but on the other it's a constantly evolving creative melting pot led by owner Patrick Baume (chef by trade) and wife, Julie, who is an artist. Art and design are at the core of everything – the two modernist external lodges, built from reclaimed materials set in a herb garden, a small art gallery and jewellery shop, delightful garden and outside dining areas and their own deli, all before you get inside where eclectic art adorns every wall. Rooms are individually designed by Julie, and feature many creative touches. The bar of course serves their own Giddy Kipper ale and dining is a treat, too.