When we heard that a five-star B&B in the New Forest was announcing a pay-what-you-want scheme, we braced ourselves for the small print. And we got it: The Cottage Lodge is indeed allowing punters to dictate the bill, as long as you book to stay midweek (and not during school holidays) from November 2009 until February 2010, providing you've booked in between 14-28 April. And all additional bits and bobs (brekkie and drinks) are pay-what-you're-told, and you've got to leave a £50 deposit with the booking. Got it? Good. But beyond all that, it certainly seems like an enticing offer, as the lodge is located plumb in the middle of the forest at Brockenhurst, with plenty of walking trails and - crucially - pubs on its doorstep. The most popular option, we're told, is the Foresters Arms near the station.

• +44 (0)1590 622 296, cottagelodge.co.uk