Isn't that one of England's oldest coaching inns?
Travellers have been staying at the Bear since the thirteenth century.

Showing its age?
No longer. Designer Ann Boyd, fresh from sprucing up the Swan at Lavenham, is spearheading the renovation of all 52 rooms plus the restaurant and snug bar by the spring of 2001.

You mean Ralph Lauren's former European creative director?
No Ralphie jokes here. Ann's real claim to fame is as a former fashion editor of The Observer.

Are we talking about ancient or modern design?
A stylish blend of the two, to judge by the first rooms to be done in the converted glove factory on one side of the cobbled courtyard. The softwood beams and bulging bow wall of the Richard Lay room are highlighted by sharp modern lighting. The black wood of a four-poster stands out among creams and greys, and there's even a hint of chintz in the floral patterns of the bedcovers. The rooms in the main house may be a tad more traditional.

What about the food?
The restaurant already has two AA rosettes but new head chef David Morris - poached from a sister Heritage Hotel, the Compleat Angler in Marlow - is chasing a third. He should get there with starters like a tantalising melon gazpacho with crab flakes and creme fraiche while his pork tenderloin comes with the softest cider cream sauce and a beetroot casserole. The three-course table d'hote menu is excellent value at £19.95, cheaper than most of the à la carte main courses.

Easy to get out and about?
It's a two-minute walk to the gates of Vanbrugh's magnificent Blenheim Palace where you can walk through the gardens created by Capability Brown. This is where Winston Churchill was born - he's buried in nearby Bladon churchyard. It's a delightful Oxfordshire village, though a little tarted up these days for the inevitable stream of tourists.

· A two-night weekend B&B break at the Bear (0870 400 8202) costs from £150 per person. Or visit the Heritage Hotels website: www.heritage-hotels.com