Hard times may be here but nothing suppresses the optimism of would-be hotel and restaurant owners. Every week a new hotel pops up or an existing place is taken over. The 2011 edition of the Good Hotel Guide, published this week, carries more than 50 "new" entries. Some may be places that are making a welcome return after temporarily losing their way. But there are plenty of discoveries of the kind that you want to share with friends (and readers).
The 10 chosen here show the quality of accommodation and food to be found in Britain. Only three could strictly be described as hotels. Some are pubs or restaurants with rooms. Others are B&Bs, popular for the personal touch and the value they offer. The geographical spread provides alternatives to the tourist honeypots of the West Country and the Lake District. There are two in North Yorkshire, a renovated inn near Flodden Field in Northumberland, and fine dining in a remote corner of the Highlands.
