The Finch's Arms, Oakham

Very upmarket food-led pub on the Hambleton peninsula in the middle of Rutland Water. Various seating and (mostly) dining areas around the bar, and a very swish restaurant further back. Also has a small grassed beer garden at the front and a much larger patio area at the rear. Landlord, Castle Rock's Harvest Pale and Red Kite from Grainstore available from three of the four handpumps.

Close by Rutland Water, where we had a constitutional prior to the second day’s Rutland conquering and I got bitten by a horsefly. Anyway, this is an inverse horseshoe shaped place with flagstone floor, chunky wood furniture and a strange metallic contraption by the bar (an old beacon?). There’s a dining room to the rear and a beautiful garden with partial views over the water and Burley House. Four ales on; St Austell Tribute, Tim Taylor Landlord, Oakham JHB and Grainstore Red Kite (good nick and was less than I expected to pay). Whilst it isn’t aimed at the casual drinker, I thought it was a decent stop.

A country pub in local stone, with an extension built onto the side which at present stands out like a sore thumb, but should blend in nicely once the stone mellows with age. It's obviously food oriented, but a very nice pub to sit in with just a beer or two in front of you. The furniture is not too smart and off-putting, as can be found in pubs of this type, the atmosphere of a village local being maintained to a certain extent. Beers available on the three hand pumps were Castle Rock Harvest Pale, St Austell Tribute and Grainstore Rutland Bitter. I went for the last named and enjoyed it to the extent of having a second half instead of just the one (we had to cycle back to the nearby camp site after dark), but I must admit to having vocalised an "Ouch!" on being charged £3.80 for two halves, and had to gird up my loins for a return to the bar. Nearly £4 for a 3.4% ordinary bitter? They're having a larf, ain't they?