The Marquis sits in the beautiful basin of the Alkham valley, embraced by a lemon and lime landscape of rolling hills. The village cricket pitch lies opposite, flanked by fields peppered with woolly-fleeced sheep. In the soft May sunshine, amid this expanse of green, the Marquis’ whitewashed walls shimmer invitingly. A gentle breeze picks up the heady aroma of meat and vegetables roasting in the kitchen.

I happily follow these culinary wafts and check-in, holdall and boyfriend in tow. Laura on reception is bubbly and smiley, happily presiding over the bright and breezy space. The Marquis was formerly a pub; now it’s a restaurant hotel with five guestrooms, recently awarded five stars by the AA guide. The reception doubles up as the restaurant’s bar and is a sleek and chic space, kitted out with squashy sofas, gleaming amber liqueurs, metallic ornaments and striped velvety armchairs.

We resist the urge for a pre-dinner tipple and instead snoop around the rooms, guided by super-efficient manager Ben. First up is the De Pamier suite; a jade and chocolate expanse with living room, double bedroom and glossy bathroom boasting bath and rain head shower. It’s a sophisticated retreat, spiced up with a bold floral mural, geometric glass-bottomed lampshades, splodgy flower prints and valley views.

The Granby room is resplendent in plumy and charcoal hues, decorated with artful sculptures, glossy vases and an imposing painting of the Marquis himself. Malmains and Hopton are smaller doubles, the former a white and blue suntrap overlooking the garden and the latter prettily kitted out in lemon and cream.

We’re in Collard, which has the boldest décor– zebra inspired black and white. There’s a glittering black chandelier, striped headboard, lacquered wood furniture and soft sofa. All this black and white is a bit Footballer’s Wives but the spotless bathroom and hill views up the class levels. The Marquis also boasts two cottages, near their own vineyard. We want to settle in, so we forego a tour of this additional accommodation.

Alkham is a walker’s dream but we’re lazily enclined, so we enjoy a pre-dinner bath, demolishing the Temple Spa toiletries. An hour’s soaping later, we’re sipping Whitstable Brewery raspberry wheat beer in the bar. Then it’s time for a decadent dinner in the Marquis’ restaurant, recently awarded two rosettes by the AA guide. Judging by our meal (and Full English the next morning) this is richly deserved. That night, fully sated, we’re relieved that only a few stairs separate our food and wine-laden bodies from bed.

The Marquis is the perfect rural retreat and Dover stop-gap; a foodie and walker’s dream destination.

Prices: Luxury rooms (Hopton and Malmains) from £65 per night; Superior rooms (Granby and Collard) from £115 per night; Suite from £165 per night. All room rates include a full English breakfast and VAT.