Our first impressions were favourable. It is a traditional pub, 16th century with wooden beams and big log fires and a bar in which genuine locals were enjoying an early evening drink. We were welcomed warmly by the Director Andrew Russell and shown up to our room. Here we received another pleasant surprise – not the cosy chintzy look we’d half expected but a bright clean décor with curtains and cushions in quality fabrics, a bouncy vi-spring bed, flat screen TV and an impeccable bathroom so clean and sparkly that it gave the impression that we were the first people ever to use it. All this and a magnificent view out over the church to the distant downland. There are four rooms in all and one, The Grand Suite, is split level with its own dining area

We decided to take a stroll before dinner and Andrew supplied us with a brochure. We explored the Church, set in what had once been a medieval vineyard and then visited the timber framed Priest’s house, now a museum before the thought of dinner beckoned.

Back at The Cat everything had changed, the car park was full and the pub, obviously very popular, was buzzing. The spacious dining room too was pretty full - a new extension it fits seamlessly. We ordered a bottle of the reasonably priced house white to sip while we chose .

Andrew shies away from the term ‘gastropub’ claiming that the chef Max Leonard makes use of the best of raw ingredients, local where possible with the aim of producing food which is simply excellent without the need for trendy labels - and certainly my starter was both excellent and local – a watercress soup, the ingredients for which came from 500 yards down the road. My husband ‘s starter of strips of roast duck on a salad of cherry tomatoes and rocket with a Soy Mirin dressing went down well too. For my main course I chose a Prime Aged Angus Rib Eye Steak which I asked for rare. This is a benchmark for me, and I was keen to see if the kitchen would get it right. It did: flavour, texture, juiciness, all perfect - as were the chips which accompanied it. My husband’s lemon sole with new potatoes and local asparagus was also given a definite thumbs up – he said the fish served on the bone had an superb flavour.

The menu included many traditional dishes we determined to return and sample; steak, mushroom and ale pie, minted lamb pudding, old English sausage and mash and even fish and chips using Harvey’s local beer in the batter.

Puddings sounded marvellous; sticky toffee pudding, crème brûlée with raspberries, warm chocolate brownie &c, especially as they are all made on the promises by Lucy the dedicated pudding chef and I deeply regretted not having room. Dennis however managed some local cheeses with homemade chutney and we both rounded off with a really well made Irish Coffee.

And so to our comfortable bed.

Breakfast was another big surprise. We were seated up on a dias at a big table which was laid attractively with fine china, jams, marmalades, yougurt, fruit and juice. I hadn’t imagined that we would be hungry after the excellent dinner but the full English proved tempting and we both scoffed the lot with total enjoyment.

Our expectations had been surpassed. A great experience. Any reservations? No only the one we intend to make for our next visit.

Rooms from £100 -£140 per night
Approximate cost of our meals £35.00 per head
And our wine £16.75 per bottle