TUCKED away down an idyllic country lane in Old Bursledon, The Fox & Hounds and Lone Barn is a hugely popular venue that has an enviable reputation for bursting at the seams on a Friday and Saturday night with hungry visitors.

Those familiar with the pub know that if you want a table, you should arrive early to avoid disappointment, and that is exactly what my husband and I did when we went for dinner on a stormy Friday night. Despite arriving at 6.45pm, the restaurant area was already filling up, with all of the favoured alcove tables spoken for.

We opted for a candle-lit table in a quiet corner between the bar and restaurant. After much consideration I plumped for plaice goujons and tartare and horseradish dip to start, followed by chicken with bacon and mozzarella smothered in a Chablis and garlic sauce.

My husband went for the chef's nachos with the beef Wellington in a red wine gravy for his main course. Something that makes this restaurant stand out from the rest is the excellent array of wines from around the world, and the experts who are available to help advise you on what wine would suit your meal choice.

Unfortunately, being pregnant I couldn't take advantage of this excellent service, but my husband couldn't resist. After a few beers to help him relax into the weekend, he opted for a Chateuxneuf de Pape to accompany his eagerly awaited beef Wellington. The plaice goujons were artistically arranged on a bed of lettuce with puffs of paprika around the rim of the plate - delicious. The nachos also looked wonderful with chilli, cheese and sour cream to top it off.

As for the main courses, my plate of chicken was accompanied by potato gratin and seasonal vegetables, but unfortunately I really couldn't do the dish justice. A filling little number, but an excellent choice all the same. However, top marks went to the beef Wellington.

Beautifully presented, the beef/puff pastry creation was surrounded by a rich red wine gravy, with a little salad garnish and a generous portion of fries on the side. Needless to say, conversation at this point had all but disappeared, replaced only by appreciative groans! To celebrate the fact that it was the weekend, we treated ourselves to dessert, chocolate ice cream for me, and the hot chocolate truffle pudding for him. The chocolate ice cream was just perfect and as for the chocolate pudding - sinful! The bill came to just over £50, which, in our opinion, like the weather, was cracking value for money.

Information: 023 8040 2784.