Old Black Horse Inn, Houghton-on-the-Hill  

Houghton on the Hill is a pretty little village just outside of Leicester (although not for much longer, if the eco-town proposals go ahead) and the Old Black Horse is one of the village's two pubs, although arguably the better of the two. The interior is quite traditional, with separate areas, including a nice wood panelled room complete with fireplace, while the large garden boasts lovely views of the countryside. It's so large in fact they've dedicated a fair amount of space for petanque, which was being enthusiastically played by a group of regulars on our visit. Service was pleasant enough and a small selection from Everards was the choice of ale. You could do far worse than having this as your local, or perhaps pop in if you're passing.

pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)