I AGREED to take part in Alfresco, Meridian's television programme on good places to eat out in the south on one condition. The researchers would have to find a restaurant where my dog would be as welcome as me.

I've got five dogs in total - four border collies and a Shetland sheep dog who all compete in agility classes. To keep them fit I do a lot of walking with them in the New Forest and on Dartmoor. There's never any problem in Dartmoor - you can turn up at a pub on the moors, filthy dirty and soaking wet with your dogs and get a nice, warm meal and hearty welcome. Here in the south, I'm only aware of two places where my dogs have been as welcome as me so this affects my choice of restaurant.

Rising to my challenge, the TV programme came up with Esseborne Manor, in Hurstbourne Tarrant near Andover. Sam, my Merle border collie and I went to check it out.

This country hotel and restaurant, set in lovely grounds, is unique in that it allows people with dogs to dine in the hotel.

This is hunting country and the hotel is well equipped for its dog-owning guests with kennels in the grounds and in some cases, allows dogs to stay in guest rooms.

The menu is extremely impressive and not too expensive either. I tried the chef's speciality which is smoked salmon. The chef smokes the fish himself using an old ammunition box which he lines with wood shavings.

The salmon is placed in a rack inside the box and then the box is heated using a blowtorch. The fish is left to smoke like this for about forty minutes. The result is absolutely delicious - definitely the best smoked salmon sandwiches I've ever tasted.

Sam enjoyed a true dog's dinner of his own; the hotel is happy to rustle up something for a hungry hound, too.

I'm a real country lad at heart so when it comes to eating out, I generally go for good, traditional home-cooked food that doesn't cost the earth.

My favourite pub of all time is the Rose and Crown at Tillshead on the Devizes road. Here, you can get a delicious starter, main course and sweet for three people and still pay under £30.

Although the salmon at Esseborne was delicious, my favourite dish is served at the Rose and Crown. It's country pie - a delicious mix of pheasant and pastry served in rich sauce that goes down a treat when you've been out in fresh air from 7am to 7pm walk-ing and working with the dogs.

Esseborne Manor: 01264 736444 Rose & Crown: 01980 621062 Alfresco is on Meridian on Tuesday at 5.30pm

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