YOU feel like the Queen at the Britannia Inn in Poole, partly because of the smell of fresh paint in the restaurant area and partly because you are treated like royalty.

The restaurant area has been completely refurbished and is a clean, airy space with a checked carpet, farmhouse wooden tables and stained glass windows. You can also eat in the bar areas although, as one features a giant football screen, you wouldn't be able to concentrate on the lovely food.

And it is lovely. Four of us went there for a traditional Sunday lunch - well, as traditional as you can get when three of you are vegetarian.

Having pre-booked and warned them of our awkward tastes, they were kind enough to get in two kinds of luxurious vegetarian sausages for us specially. These were accompanied by vegetarian gravy, Yorkshire puddings, roast and boiled potatoes, roast parsnips, French beans, baby corn, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage.

They also laid on a big dish of cauliflower cheese. All the vegetables still retained their crisp freshness and the potatoes melted in the mouth.

Our carnivorous companion had rare roast beef with the same accompaniments, but he could also have chosen lamb, pork or chicken.

My husband had had home-made tomato soup with a swirl of cream and a crusty roll as a starter (other options included watercress soup, onion soup, mushrooms stuffed with bacon or smoked salmon), but my daughter and I had puddings instead (the carnivore was too bloated to eat anything else).

We chose raspberry trifle with thick cream and a lemon and lime cheesecake. Both were delicious and came with extra cream, custard or ice-cream.

We could also have had chocolate mousse or cheese and biscuits. Cafetiere coffee afterwards was one pound each.

We left happy and full with our wallets nearly intact. Although of course if I had been the Queen I wouldn't have been carrying any money at all.

The landlord and landlady (who have fairly recently taken over the pub) were very helpful and friendly and the waitress was lovely.

The pub does bar lunches throughout the week and evening meals if pre-arranged.

Sunday lunch is £6.95 for the main course, £2 for a starter and £2 for dessert, with special offers if you book ahead.

4:39pm Monday 27th November 2006

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