SAT beneath a rose-covered pergola surrounded by fields in a village near Braishfield, it is hard to imagine a better place to be on a sunny afternoon.

And it seemed that every man and his dog had the same idea.

Although the car park of the Dog & Crook, in Crookhill – just a short country drive from Andover – was packed and spilling on to the small road outside the pub, luckily there was plenty of room at the inn to accommodate the influx of hungry and thirsty customers.

And it was easy to see why this country pub was so popular.

The beer garden was perfect for the glorious weather, with unobtrusive music playing in the background and the heady scent of hundreds of blooms.

And in the cool interior was the restaurant and bar area, with its well dressed tables.

But it was the food that was the real draw for the swarm of punters.

Every Sunday the Dog and Crook offers a roast for £9.95, or three courses for £15.95. Although the dishes, piled high with meat and vegetables, accompanied by a delicious aroma, were almost impossible to resist as they wafted past my table, I opted for a lighter bite. And I was certainly not disappointed with my sausage and onion baguette.

The brown baguette was fresh out of the oven and the locally-made sausages were deliciously accompanied by very crispy onions, all for less than £7. Alongside this lay a large and colourful salad with home-made coleslaw, making my cheesy chips side almost redundant.

My husband opted for a similarlypleasing chicken and bacon baguette, declaring it perfect for a summer’s day.

The Dog and Crook is in a beautiful location for eating outside on a warm summer’s day, and the inside is just as appealing.

With delicious dishes and a good selection of real ales and ciders, this inn will continue to charm punters from far and wide.

JEN RIVETT