WHEN you dine at the Forest Inn you can't help but feel you're tucked away in the middle of the countryside.

We'd been driving around the area looking for a cosy pub where we could enjoy an evening meal that didn't involve a flash restaurant where you had to be dressed to the nines.

As we pulled into the car park of the pub on Lyndhurst Road we found just what we were looking for.

Inside is a comfy bar area with traditional wooden tables and a TV screen.

We were fortunate that we didn't have to book a table - but that's not to say it wasn't busy.

There's a very relaxed, homely atmosphere with small lamps dotted around. It was fairly low lit and made a change from the more modern restaurants which are filled with bright lights and music.

And even though it's on a busy main road, you don't hear the traffic.

The nice thing about the Forest Inn is the meals have a home-cooked, farmhouse-type feel about them.

The menu shies away from the typical starter, main course and dessert and instead offers a range of main meals - although soup and some mouth watering puddings were available.

The food sounded very appetising with a range of dishes including peppered steak, fillets of chicken in a Stilton sauce and the old favourite - pork sausages, mash and gravy.

My boyfriend and I were particularly hungry and opted for a mixed grill and a sirloin steak. Both came on massive plates with a mound of chips, onion rings and a lovely salad.

The mixed grill was undoubtedly one of the best I've seen. There was every kind of meat, including steak, sausage and gammon on the plate.

You can guarantee eating at the Forest Inn is money well spent.

Bookings on 023 8029 2331.