There’s something idyllic about a pub in the country – complete with a view – in the summer.

And The Cunning Man delivers in spades.

Situated just outside Reading and slap bang next to the Kennet and Avon, it’s ideal for sitting in the garden on a sunny day with a pint and good food, not to mention good company.

That was the plan, but sadly the British weather had other ideas and our lazy Saturday afternoon was actually spent inside.

Thankfully there were plenty of tables to choose from, despite being busy – families in abundance including a very junior magician dressed up to entertain his relatives.

Before ordering your drinks you should consider the pub’s summer drinks menu.

There’s a focus here on refreshing drinks, available by the glass or pitcher, including sapphire fizz (£4.25/£15.50) and pomegranate and raspberry fizz (£1.20, glass only).

These will be ideal if and when summer appears.

The pub’s summer menu is full of interesting choices, but it was to the daily specials that we headed, opting for a butternut squash and goat’s cheese lasagne (£7.25) and a rib eye steak (£12.95). 

The lasagne was one of two veggie dishes on the specials menu on the day of our visit and, served with mixed salad and garlic ciabatta, even tempted me.

However, the promise of 12oz of steak, marbled to ensure extra flavour and served with roasted mushroom, a plum tomato and fries, won the day for me.

The steak was on the rarer side of medium rare, which was exactly the way I’d wanted it. It looked like a mountain of meat on the plate and it came with its own mountain of chips.

It was accompanied by the option of the condiments tray – at least a dozen different sauces could be chosen, including at least three different types of mustard.

Little touches like this really make a difference.

The lasagne was equally huge, cooked perfectly and was delicious, although Judith felt there was a little too much pepper. Not enough to spoil it – she scoffed the lot quite happily.

The dessert menu, with its vanilla pannacottas, lemon possets and Neapolitan ice cream sundaes (from £3.50) were very tempting, but we were full.

So full that we just had to sit and relax a while longer before braving the summer’s rain again.