Short stay: The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone, Staffordshire, UK

The Duncombe Arms shows just how far The Great British Pub has travelled.

Gourmet pub classics have brought a Michelin Bib Gourmand, two AA rosettes and foodies from afar. This is no longer just a place where only locals drop by for a pint and a bite.

Ten rooms in Walnut House, every one, with picture window views across the Dove Valley, have the look of a photo-shoot for an interior design magazine. Laura Greenall’s design has elevated The Duncombe Arms way beyond “The Pub with Rooms” categorisation.

Just a decade ago, The Duncombe Arms, a village pub originally opened in the 1850s, was derelict and boarded. Local couple, Johnny and Laura Greenall, decided to mount a rescue operation. Rejuvenated, restored and revived the Duncombe Arms opened its doors in 2012.

The welcome

Park by one of the free two charging points if you’ve travelled by electric car. One of the friendly serving staff, smartly dressed in navy apron, adorned by the…