Distinctive character in quiet hostelry (5)
I believe the answer is:
ethos
'distinctive character' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in quiet hostelry' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'ETHOS' is hidden in the letters of 'quiet hostelry'.
(Other definitions for ethos that I've seen before include "Group's distinctive character" , "Distinctive spirit of an institution" , "Moral significance" , "Spirit (of a group, say)" , "Characteristic culture of a culture or time" .)