After the death of Imogen Skirving's father, a pre-war captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and the last owner of Langar Hall, she couldn't bear the thought of losing the house, nor could she afford to keep it on, except on the basis of sharing it with guests. Thus was born the concept of Langar Hall as a hotel and, despite burgeoning success, people who stay here feel more like guests in a beautiful Georgian stuccoed country house rather than customers in a hotel. The library appears to be totally unchanged, with hundreds of books available to leaf through with a drink or two before dinner. The food is superb and the wine list well judged.

  The best bedrooms are light and airy, with furniture appropriate to the house that Imogen wanted to save, and enjoy glorious views of the Vale of Belvoir. For exercise, you can play croquet or stroll round the village church just behind the house. Best of all is the friendliness of the hostess and her staff. Imogen wanders around the dining room, alighting at tables of single, bored businessmen and exchanging any sort of gossip, while nothing is too much trouble for the chef or staff. When our inspector realised, at 1 am, after an excellent dinner, that he had forgotten his sponge bag, an assortment of toothbrushes, toothpaste and razors was provided. We revisited in 2006 and enjoyed the Imogen Skirving show as much as ever.