YOU don't really need an excuse to eat out nowadays, but seeing as it was my mum's birthday, we thought we'd try somewhere a bit further afield and have a change from the normal haunts.

On recommendation we had booked a table at the Bat and Ball near Hambledon, deep in the heart of the Meon Valley.

Thought to be the cradle of cricket, the modern game was formulated on rules drawn up by the village's cricket club, which played on the field opposite the pub known as Broadhalfpenny Down.

And the cricketing theme continues inside the 17th century inn that used to house the clubroom in the great days of the birth of the gentlemans' game back to the 1750s.

Artefacts relating to the origins of cricket are hanging on the walls around the pub, and my cricket-mad, fussy-eater boyfriend found the pictures, paintings and cricketing memorabilia to be more interesting than the large specials blackboard on the wall.

But being a non-cricket lover, I took more interest in the enticing menu than the historic images. So we were both content.

The menu was a meat-lovers dream with a varied selection to suit the hungriest of carnivores.

Our party ordered a rib-eye steak, a leg of lamb and a chicken supreme. The 8oz steak was cooked to perfection - medium-rare - as requested and came with a nice healthy serving of fresh vegetables including delicious sweet peas.

The leg of lamb was extremely tender and came in a moreish sweet mint gravy, while the chicken supreme was served in a creamy sun dried tomato sauce on a bed of oven roasted garlic mash. The garlic taste was subtle but definitely noticeable.

My mum was the odd one out and plumped for fish. Her salmon supreme with mozzarella, smoked salmon and pesto was very well presented on a chunky white plate and was light and full of flavour.

Don't panic if you're a vegetarian as there is a selection for you as well.

The meal for four including coffees and drinks came to around £50, which I considered to be good value for such well cooked and presented food.

If you are out and about in the Hampshire countryside one summer's weekend, then the Bat and Ball is the perfect place to stop off, admire the breathtaking view over the historic cricket venue and sample the fine cuisine.

To reserve a table call 023 9263 2692.