The White Horse Inn is a very pleasing pub in a very pleasing village. Compton Bassett has all the charm of Wiltshire, with a nod to the Cotswolds on its doorstep.

The pub is nestled in the middle of the village, has stone arched doors and windows, oak panels, stone floors and pictures of hunting and shooting folk from days gone by on the walls. Spotlessly clean, stylish inside, classy without being flashy and space for muddy boots on the porch.

You know before you even go in that this is going to be a treat.

The restaurant has two AA rosettes and is mentioned in the Michelin guide. That might suggest this was going to bust the Gazette and Herald’s frugal budget, but to my great surprise (and slight relief) the prices were just ordinary gastro pub dinner prices.

While the usual pub faves of fish and chips, steak and burgers were on the menu at around £14, the rest of the choices were interesting, creative and tantalising.

More so, because at around £7 each for a starter, and between £16 and £20 for a main, the prices were comparable to other gastro pubs.

The menu is tantalising. Cured sea trout with pickled cucumber and salt baked beetroot and a butternut squash and sage risotto with jerusalem artichoke crisps were our chosen starters. I'd run out of superlatives describing the trout dish, it was that delicious. The risotto was outstanding too - and this was just the start of the meal. Who knew artichoke crisps were a thing!

What also stands out here is the crockery. Not the usual mass catering china, or those slightly irritating slates and wooden planks some places use to make it look fancy.

Here, we were served on elegantly glazed bowls and plates which would be at home in a Homes and Gardens accessories feature. Any wannabe country house pretender would want these plates. Self included.

Produce is also mostly locally sourced, with local estate venison and partidge, and other ingredients plucked from small holdings around Compton Bassett.

Even the wine of the week was local. And may I say surprisingly full bodied and spicey for a Wiltshire pinot noir rondo Nethercote Hill. This one was from Whitehall Vineyards in Lacock and again, not knock-yer-block-off expensive at £30.

I might make clear at this point that the decision to splurge beyond the luncheon vouchers provided by the G and H was taken.

We ordered the venison haunch with potato fondant , wild mushrooms, kale and blackberry jus along with seared duck breast with goats cheese and poppy seed bon bons. Really, really good. All of it.

I can only describe the chocolate fondant, peanut butter and salted caramel truffle with raspberry sorbet as a very spiritual experience.

This was, without a doubt, one of the best meals I have had in Wiltshire. Lovely pub, great location, terrific service and outstanding food. Highly recommended.

And complements to the chef who should get a recipe book out there for Christmas.