There was a distinct chill in the air as I gave the dog its Saturday morning walk - even my ageing greyhound was in a hurry to get back to the car.

So the warmth of a real fire came as a welcome relief as I entered The Glen for a bite to eat before returning home.

Tucked away in a residential part of Gilstead, The Glen is the local for many of the people who live in the surrounding new houses.

The pub has a wide selection of rooms; the main bar area with a snug off to one side with a small television for sports fans, a family room, a conservatory and a beer garden for warm sunny days, not the middle of February.

The conservatory had a bright sunny feel and overlooked the garden - the ideal spot to laze away a summer's afternoon. The added bonus of a range of children's play equipment outside in the garden keeps young ones busy making this pub a real family favourite which caters for all ages.

This was clearly visible in the varied clientele, who ranged from the cutest new-born baby to an older couple who sat enjoying a lunchtime drink.

However I chose to sit right next to the fire with its alluring glow.

The extensive menu ranges from light bites and an array of sandwiches and jacket potatoes, to hearty main courses and starters.

A roast dinner is also available on Sundays.

I decided to plump for one of the larger main courses having built up an appetite. From the exciting vegetarian options I chose the homemade vegetable lasagne and my dining partner chose the gammon steak.

While the pub does not serve food throughout the day it is available in two sessions; a couple of hours over lunchtime and a few hours early evening to cover peak hunger times.

As we waited for our food we enjoyed a drink, chatting in the laidback environment of traditional pub decor. The red velour seating, copper-topped cast-iron tables and a collection of ornamental plates showing different birds gave it a homely atmosphere.

When the food arrived swiftly both plates were piled high. My lasagne came in an oval dish on a serving platter accompanied by a portion ofthick chips, a generous salad and two slices of garlic bread.

The gammon steak was hardly visible for extras that had been cleverly balanced on the plate - a fried egg, a portion of peas, a salad, a pineapple ring and a portion of thick chips.

My lasagne was piping hot with a nice layer of cheese on top. The freshly-made salad contained a host of ingredients including tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, watercress, grated carrot, peppers, red onion and red cabbage - a meal in itself.It all made for a delicious combination.

My partner thought his meal was spot on too and couldn't believe mine could taste as good their gammon steak. It was well cooked and the extra trimmings like the egg and pineapple ring went down a treat.

I had been looking forward to a dessert having an exceptionally sweet tooth, but just couldn't fit one in. My partner was totally full as well.

On a further glance of the menu I noticed that there weren't any desserts listed - but then couldn't imagine that there was a lot of demand for them with those generous main-meal portions served up!

WHAT WE ATE Main course Gammon Steak - £6.20 Homemade Vegetable Lasagne - £5.95 Drinks Pint of Stella and an apple and melon J2O - £4.20 Total cost £16.35

  • Our writers comment on what they find during a single visit. They accept standards vary from day to day. In the interest of fairness, they do not reveal their identities, and they pay for their meals in full. Each venue is judged against other restaurants of a similar type.