I have always been a great fan of Fullers, they brew mighty fine beer from their Chiswick brewery (London Pride, ESB etc.) and have some special pubs too.

My ‘local’, The Spread Eagle in Croydon has turned their intimate upstairs room into a comedy club and cinema (free large screen classic, free popcorn and a lovely pint, bliss!) and another favourite, The Old Fish Market in Bristol, did great Thai food to accompany the ale (now they serve traditional pub food but it is still excellent!)..

I had no idea they did hotels, until that was I was looking for an above average dog-friendly weekend retreat in the New Forest.

The White Buck in Burley fitted the bill perfectly. Open fires, comfy sofas, tasty food and general all round ambience. London Pride of course too! I was even introduced to a new and very acceptable ale named Red Fox.

For around £140 per night for a double, dog residency and delicious breakfast included, it wasn’t cheap, but definitely decent value.

A former hunting lodge, the display of guns and the (once majestic) stag’s head won’t be everybody’s cup of tea, but the other decor and furnishings certainly will be. The grounds looked very welcoming too, sadly a tad too soggy for us to explore.

On further examination, Fullers have over 30 hotels around the South of England, with plans to open many others.

These range from rooms above city centre pubs to country piles like the one we enjoyed. All have great decor, comfort and beer (unlike the pints in most hotels I have stayed in!).

Next time you are planning a weekend break you should give them a try. Might make a refreshing change! Click Fullers to see the hotel list.