AS locations go, you'd be hard pressed to beat The Jolly Sailor at Old Bursledon.

The pub is slap bang on the water's edge overlooking the River Hamble, with seating along its frontage as well as on a covered wooden jetty.

It is the perfect place to sit and unwind with a cold beer, watching the yachts come and go on a lazy sunny day.

Unfortunately, the pub, made famous by TV series Howard's Way in the 1980s, is not exactly Hampshire's best kept secret.

Pick any half-decent summer's evening and you will probably have to fight to get to a table - or to the bar.

Which is why I have always preferred a trip to The Jolly in winter, with log fires and bottles of red wine. Far more relaxing.

Unfortunately for me, the pub has been closed all winter for a refurbishment.

So with Jolly withdrawal symptoms, Billy, Tim and I headed down soon after its reopening to checkout the 18th century watering hole's new look.

With a new bar and a generally more open feel, the pub seemed more "foody" than ever before.

Everyone was eating, then leaving. No one seemed to be taking in the river view over a few drinks.

Perhaps it was me. I will reserve judgement on the revamp until a couple of return visits.

The food, however, could not be faulted.

From an extensive menu and eight specials, I started with the carrot and coriander soup, which was piping hot and served with a hunk of fresh bread.

My main course of beer battered cod - an old favourite - was up to scratch, served with a generous helping of chunky chips.

Wanting to sample something new, Billy settled on the pan-fried gnocchi with sun-kissed tomatoes, roasted peppers and tomato coulis, followed by the chargrilled fillet steak with a Boursin and cracked pepper sauce.

Both were a success.

Tim went for the bakes goat's cheese and herb salad, which he praised as "creamy", followed by the home-made fillet of beef, mushroom, red wine and cream casserole - one of the day's specials - which he also described as "creamy".

There was no room for puds but we finished with latte, mocha and cappuccino coffees. Not surprisingly, Tim said his latte was, er, "creamy".

The bill, without drinks, came to £49.

The Jolly Sailor is in Lands End Road, Old Bursledon, Southampton. Tel: 023 8040 5557.