Hotel The Grove Arms (Shaftesbury, United Kingdom)

Dining is something to look forward to. The menus are imaginative and mouthwatering and the end result doesn't disappoint in the slightest. The food here is exceptional.

They make such a fuss of the family dog. It's as much of a break for them as it is for the owners. There's doggie breakfast, a place in front of the fire on cold days and even a few tasty morsels at dinner time … all this forms part of a great break for all concerned. If you can prise your pet pouch away from all this (!!) and out of the building, there are some fabulous walks to enjoy.

Everyone is very friendly and welcoming here. Efficient too; the place runs like clockwork, rooms are clean and the food is great. Another little perk is that the Wi-Fi is good and reliable.

Rooms can be very noisy-and exceptionally hot during the summer months. So much so, you'll need to have the windows flung open … which adds to the noise problem. Rooms to the rear of the building are quieter.

Dog owners don't mind, but other guests might be a bit put out to find a number of these very happy animals in the dining room. Incidentally, human food varies between being 'sensational' and 'you must be joking'.

The rooms are clean, so that's OK. They are showing signs of wear and tear though. Carpets are worn, outside lighting shines through the curtains at night and bathroom furniture is from a bygone era.