FOR a relaxing meal you would be hard pushed to beat the classy Potters Restaurant at Ampfield.

Part of the impressive Potters Heron Hotel, the restaurant is set in a beautiful location with a separate bar and garden which is ideal for after-dinner drinks on warm summer evenings.

As soon as you enter the restaurant you're struck by the calm atmosphere, which has a definite appeal to the more mature diner.

The decor is in keeping with that feel and it is an extremely comfortable and spacious place to eat, with excellent views of the Hampshire countryside.

The menu is varied, with choices of Italian, Chinese, Indian and more traditional English dishes.

As a starter I went for the prawn covered in sesame seed bread, while my partner opted for tomato and basil soup.

Mine was delicious, particularly with the accompanying Chinese dip, and the fresh, tomatoey taste of the soup was also well appreciated.

For my main course I had the beef, which was cooked to perfection and came in an extremely tasty sauce.

My partner went for the chicken, which was covered in a deliciously original creamy apricot sauce.

Both main courses were accompanied with a healthy selection of vegetables.

I probably didn't need the dessert but, just for research purposes, I was tempted to try the strawberry cheesecake.

And it was well worth it - as was my partner's treacle sponge in custard, which I gladly polished off after she had to admit to being too full.

The service throughout the evening was friendly and efficient, and nothing was too much trouble for the waiting staff.

It was also a nice touch to be served limitless jugs of water and bread rolls free of charge.

At £19.95 a head for three courses the food was a touch on the expensive side, but definitely well worth it.

Reservations: 023 8026 6611.