Mr & Mrs Smith

The only licensed chocolate shop in the UK, The House of Minerva on Cheap Street in Bath (+44 (0)1225 464999) is the place to go if you want to accompany handmade truffles – whipped up in front of you – with a glass or two of champagne. If you’re still in Bath later on, try Beaujolais on Chapel Row (+44 (0)1225 423417), a relaxed, light-filled bistro and bar with a contemporary feel and changing seasonal menus. There’s even a secret terrace garden for dining en plein air. Up the stakes at Bath’s Michelin-starred eatery The Bath Priory restaurant on Weston Road, which has held its accolade for almost a decade (+44 (0)1225 331922). You’ll need a reservation.

Within walking distance, The Packhorse Inn in Southstoke (+44 (0)1225 832060) is a charming 15th-century coaching inn. Park up at a bench in the beer garden and soak up the sun and the views with a pint of cider (and we don’t mean that over-iced luminous orange stuff).

The White Hart Inn on Widcombe Hill in Bath (+44 (0)1225 338053) is popular at lunchtime for its tasty and trendy back-to-basics lunches.

Horse riding can be arranged nearby, as can a day at the races (in the season). The city of Bath is a 15-minute drive away, making the Wheatsheaf the ideal base for a town-and-country escape.