With its green, duck pond, annual fete and agricultural vehicles trundling along its single road, Biddestone is the archetypal English village – and the White Horse the archetypal village pub. Summer here makes for lazy afternoons and balmy evenings; snow brings picture postcard prettiness.

Originally a coaching inn, its three dinky rooms provide family-friendly carpeted cosiness,while a large rear garden gives the nippers space to run around. Four-legged friends are just as welcome, with three dogs joining resident Jack Russell Eric during our visit.

Numerous guinea pigs in hutches out back snooze snugly in straw, but it’s the bar’s open fire – an original feature in a building dating from the 18th century – which brings maximum homeliness. My guest Bonnie’s mulled wine warms the cockles, a mince pie hot from the range helping to keep out winter’s biting cold.

Food is hale, hearty and distinctly affordable, with carnivores copping for a tasty game pie, which appears regularly on the specials board, and vegetarians enjoying admirably diverse dining.

Rugby paraphernalia confirms the pub’s popularity with players like Jeremy Guscott. Other punters, allegedly, include the ghosts of an old couple who fell in love with the place and didn’t want to leave. It’s not hard to see why. (Words Simon Fry; pics Mark Simmons)

The information

Lager Fosters, Kronenbourg, Carling. From £3.60.

Beer Gem, Barnstormer, Courage Best, Butcombe. From £2.95.

Cider Dry Blackthorn, Stowford Press. From £3.10.

Wine Five red, seven white. From: £3.10 gls/£11.95 btl.

Food Served Mon-Sat 12noon-2pm & 6-9pm, Sun 12noon-9pm. Traditional home-cooked. Cumberland sausage & mash £6.95, Somerset pork pie £9.75, lemon sole goujons £8.95, 16oz T-bone £15.50, cashew nut paella £8.50.

WHITE HORSE BIDDESTONE, NR CHIPPENHAM, SN14 7DG, TEL: 01249 713305, WEB: WWW.THEWHITEHORSEBIDDESTONE.CO.UK OPEN MON-SAT 11AM-11PM, SUN 12NOON-10.30PM.

Copyright Simon Fry 2010; pics copyright Mark Simmons Photography 2010