Langar Hall: the quietly eccentric country house dining room in the Vale of Belvoir

Some restaurants feel like a night out. Langar Hall feels like being invited to stay. This country house hotel and restaurant in the village of Langar, in the Vale of Belvoir, describes itself as "Stubbornly English, Deliciously Stylish, Quietly Eccentric", and few who visit would argue.

The hall has a long and colourful history. It came to the Howe family in 1677, and Admiral Richard Howe, later First Lord of the Admiralty, was buried in the family vault at Langar in 1799. The original mansion burned down in the 1810s and was replaced by the smaller Georgian house that stands today.

The modern story belongs to Imogen Skirving, who inherited the property from her father in 1968. "When I took over in 1968 I wanted this magical place to survive into the 21st century," she wrote. Her answer was to open her family home to guests, and she dreamt that people would feel as if they had been invited to dinner by a dear friend. Imogen died in 2016, and today the hall is run by her granddaughter, Lila, with Imogen's photograph still in pride of place.

The food remains central to that welcome. The kitchen serves modern British cooking built on local produce, including game from the Belvoir estate and vegetables from the hotel's own kitchen garden. Fine dining runs from Tuesday to Saturday, while Sundays and Mondays bring classic, hearty dishes. The Good Food Guide singles out the twice-baked cheese soufflé as a well-known draw and praises the good-value set lunch menus, while the cocktail list pays tribute to Imogen herself.

The setting adds to the charm. Diners eat by candlelight, with Persian carpets, chandeliers and striped armchairs giving the rooms their distinctive character. Upstairs there are 13 bedrooms, each different, from an original four-poster room to a former artist's studio and a room said to be a favourite of the Test Match Special team.

The hall has hosted its share of celebrations, including the 2011 wedding of Ed Miliband and Justine Thornton, but its real magic lies in making every guest feel at home.

Langar Hall is on Church Lane, Langar. Table and room bookings can be made through the Langar Hall website.