By Catherine Leech, director of 101 Holidays

The Lord Poulett Arms in Hinton St George, Somerset, has been hailed as one of Britain’s best pubs for food. It’s the Good Pub Guide’s 2009 National Dining Pub of the Year, and was the Good Hotel Guide’s 2008 Gastro Pub of the Year. It is mentioned in the Michelin guide and even cited by Gardeners World’s on Radio 4 as one of the top three pubs for dining alfresco.

Can it possibly live up to the hype?

I’ve always been suspicious of award-winning pubs and restaurants – prices go up, complacency creeps in and the clientele goes a bit bling. But after lunch at the Lord Poulett Arms, I can only agree with the pundits.

This is a cosy, rustic village pub with a healthy mix of local drinkers and low-key visitors whose muddy wellies and battered Barbours didn’t raise an eyebrow. It also has the requisite roaring log fires, real ales, cider and sloe gin and a locally-sourced menu.

Starters included Cornish mussels, Lyme Bay mackerel, a warm salad of haggis and bacon, rillettes of local pork and local goat’s cheese, and cost £5 to £6. Mains such as gilt head bream, a hearty beef stew and risotto cost in the region of £8 to £12. All generously sized and beautifully presented.

Desserts cost around £5 and range from nursery favourites (there was a treacle sponge when we were there) to more sophisticated Cranachan and something very naughty involving Valrhona chocolate. There’s a great sandwich menu and the triple-cooked chips are the stuff of legends.

Three of us shared four starters and three puddings plus a couple of glasses of Rioja and four local organic fruit juices, for £34. If you drink too much and can’t make it home, there are some charming rooms too priced at £88, B&B.

I reckon the Lord Poulett Arms is the perfect pub for foodies – despite all the awards. Is there a better one in Britain? Your suggestions, please!