COME to The Peat Spade," the former editor of the Romsey Advertiser purred.

"Pete Who?" I said, utterly confused.

Several repetitions later and the penny dropped.

"OK," I said.

"But isn't it rather a long way to go?"

In fact the journey to The Peat Spade, beyond Stockbridge in the village of Longstock, proves all part of the experience.

You drive down narrow lanes, lined with some of Hampshire's prettiest homes - thatched and bricked, with some surrounded by roses and grazing livestock. Enchanting.

The pub itself is first spotted just round one of many corners along the road.

Landlady Sarah Hinman has been at the helm for the past eight years and her partner Bernie Startup is head chef.

They specialise in offering seasonal dishes made from as much local produce as is possible.

And if it happens to be organic, well, all the better.

Suppliers include local pork and ice cream producers plus the nearby Longstock Estate, which is part of the John Lewis Group.

Because the food they are supplied with changes with the seasons, the menu is revised every three weeks.

The care taken over the ingredients is immediately apparent.

I had moist and succulent salmon and smoked haddock fishcakes served with a mixed salad and savoury mayonaise.

Pregnant and, on the point of scraping the sauce off the top, I asked Bernie about the sauce.

"Don't worry. They're pasturised," he bellowed back from the bar.

Mark had Piedmont pork and bellotti herb casserole while the editrix tucked into Cornish baked goats cheese salad with pesto cous cous.

For pudding, Mark guarded his New Forest berries with organic vanilla ice cream fiercely while the rest of us fought over Almanac chocolate flan and butterscotch ice cream.

One of the best bits was the fact the pub was not so packed out you had to jab drinkers with your elbows in order to get anywhere near the bar.

The dcor is relaxed and understated with wooden tables and chairs, and curtains winding around polls by the window.

If you're a sun worshipper, you can sit in the enclosed garden outside, sliding under a huge umbrella if it gets too unbearably hot as the bees buzz lazily in the plant border.

Either way the service is quick and you can taste the organic ingredients in every mouthful.

Gorgeous.

To book a table call: 01264 810612.