NESTLING in one of the many folds of Salisbury Plain is The Boot Inn at Berwick St James.

This establishment has long held a good reputation as a place to eat and drink and it didn’t fail to live up to its reputation.

On arrival on Saturday it was touch and go whether there was room for us to be accommodated for lunch but somehow a table and seating was found – we hadn’t booked.

The menu was full, rich and hearty.

I opted for the rib-eye steak, which is always a tasty favourite, accompanied by potato wedges and water cress. It didn’t disappoint in either taste or quantity and by the time I had finished there was little room for anything else, apart from the remnant of the pint of Wadworth 6X.

My partner opted for a steak and kidney suet pudding cooked in the style our grandmothers would have approved of and about the size of a small football. It was a magnificent feast of suet pud, though if I had been eating it I would have preferred the suet pudding a little more crispy and less doughy.

It was served with mash which was fine and a large portion of carrots which were nicely cooked, though my partner didn’t really relish the addition of some caraway seeds.

Service here is polite, excellent and despite the speed of delivery there’s a feeling that the food is properly cooked. As an added bonus it comes piping hot – I don’t enjoy meat served cold.

Being just a couple of miles down the old straight tracks from Stonehenge, this inn is frequented by a lot of walkers and tourists and on our visit a party of shooters was expected. Those enjoying the outdoor life must work up an appetite.

If you’ve a need for a well portioned hearty lunch this is a place to consider, but also consider walking it off during the afternoon.

I didn’t even think about viewing the sweet menu, there just wasn’t room.

The main course meal for two with four drinks came to £39.05.

Steve Dancey