It's not easy to find a lovely village pub, with a non-smoky atmosphere and food that will keep both adults and children happy.

But I'd heard great things about the White Hart at Fyfield, and rang to make a booking a week or so in advance.

I was invited to come along at 6.45pm, so we could make our choices early, including food for the three-year-old, before the chef started cooking at 7pm.

We found the White Hart pub and restaurant a 15th century former Chantry House tucked along a little lane in the village of Fyfield, just off the A420.

We arrived on a very nippy evening, but even in the gloomy half light we could see a beautiful garden, complete with a life-sized, and very lifelike, hart.

Making our way inside, we found a warm and cosy bar, and gave our names to the waitress before being shown to a large round table.

The White Hart comprises a great hall, a minstrel's gallery and several 'characterful' side rooms.

The flagstone floor, two-storey high vaulted ceiling and pillar candles in wall sconces make for beautiful surroundings. While the waitress took our drinks order, I inquired about food for the little one.

She told us the chef would usually prepare pasta for children, if needed, but she would need to check. We soon learned this wasn't possible. However some dishes could be made smaller.

Unfortunately, the youngster had spotted the rack of lamb on the menu and they do not come in smaller portions, so we agreed she would share her daddy's meal, with some added dishes.

AND YOU ORDERED?

Starters include wonderful sounding dishes like salad of goats cheese, and smoked haddock kedgeree with poached egg, but we are definitely 'pudding people' and chose to go for main dishes, followed by desserts.

Our selections were the roast rack of Cotswold lamb, with dauphinoise potatoes, spiced red cabbage and redcurrant jus, the panfried duck breast, with roasted sweet potato mash and rhubarb sauce and side dishes of string chips and wok-fried green vegetables.

The White Hart doesn't offer free bread, probably on account of it being pretty spectacular stuff homemade and warm with sundried tomato, rosemary and pine nuts so we also ordered a basket of bread and some marinated olives.

Pudding wise, the little one asked for locally-produced strawberry ice cream, while we adults chose chocolate ice cream and the Baileys bread and butter pudding.

Furnished with our drinks, bread, olives and a thoughtful colouring book and jar of crayons, we waited happily.

AND WHAT DID YOU THINK?

The food, extra plate and side dishes arrived quite promptly and were beautifully presented.

While the little one began happily gnawing on lamb with ketchup, we adults took a little more time to savour the flavours.

The lamb, I'm told, was cooked perfectly, the dauphinoise potatoes were herby and satisfying, while the red cabbage added just the right amount of tang.

My duck breast was pink, with just the right amount of fat and the sweet potato mash was expertly offset by the unusual rhubarb sauce.

In no time at all, plates were cleared and we were looking at our puddings.

The strawberry ice cream was "the best!" praise indeed from a three-year-old ice-cream expert.

I had to agree about the chocolate ice cream.

The Baileys bread and butter pudding meanwhile, was polished off before I even had the chance to request a taste!

VERDICT: Not cheap, but scrumptious and filling.

If you are taking a child, emphasise that when booking.

THE BILL Homemade bread £2.50 Marinated olives £2.00 Cotswold lamb, with dauphinoise potatoes, spiced red cabbage and redcurrant jus £17.95 Panfried duck breast, with roasted sweet potato mash and rhubarb sauce £14.75 String chips £2.95 Wok-fried green vegetables £2.50 Baileys bread and butter pudding £4.95 Strawberry ice-cream £4.95 Chocolate ice-cream£4.95 Round of drinks £7 Total: £64.50