Of course this has to be one of our favourite venues because it is our 'local', just 100 yards away from the cottage.

This is a free house, which means that it is not tied to any particular brewery, so the landord can sell whatever beers he likes.

Like many pubs these days, the Pheasant is not just a drinking house, (although it is well patronised by the local population), but it also does excellent food at tables around the bar area (our licensing laws prohibit under 14 year olds from being in this area).

All the food is prepared on the premises, and is good wholesome English food like roast beef and huge yorkshire puddings, roast lamb, and the most wonderful fish and chips that you can possibly imagine. The chips (fries for those in the USA) are probably the best that you will get anywhere in England!!

Heydon is the next village eastwards along the ridge from Great Chishill, no more than a mile away. The King William IV has an excellent reputation for its food, especially vegetarian food - in fact it has won several awards in the last few years for its vegetarian menu.

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A little further (3 miles from us) along the ridge is the village of Chrishall, which has an old pub (believed to date back to Norman times - that's 11th Century!) which has new owners and has been totally refurbished. The pub offers a range of typical English food, including a selection of home made (made on the premises) pies, in its intimate, heavily beamed restaurant.

A little further (4 miles from us) along the ridge is the village of Elmdon, which has recently been refurbished and is getting a good reputation for its food

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The Royal Oak at Barrington is a lovely old thatched pub on the village green, believed to be the oldest thatched pub in England.

This old, crooked pub was once a staging post on the route from London to Cambridge, and boasts that Samual Pepys once stayed there!