NESTLED nicely in Severn Stoke off the A38, sits The Rose and Crown, a traditional 15th century village inn.

Half a mile from the River Severn, its website boasts of the pub being perfectly situated between Junction 7 of the M5 and Junction 1 of the M50, meaning it’s a convenient stop if you’re on a long journey.

The pub is your proper old school establishment, tucked away down a lane off the A-road, surrounded by cottages and overlooked by a church to the back.

You have to push down the handle on the front door like a garden gate and then feel a bit like you’ve just barged into someone’s living room.

Having nearly over-shot the car park on arrival, I pulled up and could imagine a travel-weary poet in the 1700s stopping here for a pint and a pie.

Then he’d probably be thrashing out a few stanzas at one of the tables after his meal as the beer flowed on.

The Rose and Crown is owned by established pub hands Paul and Ann Curnock – who have run boozers in Worcester for 15 years.

While bar manager Rosie Morrow has worked at the pub for eight years.

The bar area, while small, is bigger than you expect from the outside, and, on Saturday afternoon, was well stocked with customers.

I walked up to the bar and stood near me was a man, pint in hand, wearing a black gilet with nothing under it.

I asked the barman if they were serving food and was cheerily told they were, and that I could eat either in the bar area or in the dining section.

I took a menu and sat at a table just off the bar. There were a few people in the dining room and, somewhat ominously, everyone in the bar seemed to leave within 10 minutes of me getting there.

Alone, I started to feel like Sergeant Neil Howie in The Wicker Man as I looked over the menu and hoped I wouldn’t find my starter motor had been tampered with when it was time to leave.

There’s all the usual pub food on offer, plus a few others. I was tempted by homemade chilli but then opted for hand battered cod with chips, mushy rather than garden peas, and chunky tartare sauce.

Customers can hook up to the pub’s free wifi with the password displayed above the bar and I was checking the Sky Sports Score Centre app when my food arrived.

As I ate, and with the bar still empty, the staff were discussing whether January or February was the worst month for people going out and spending money.

The food is good – there’s plenty of choice on the menu and it’s pretty reasonably priced and homemade.

To be honest, I’ve had better fish and chips, the batter was a little too crunchy, but the meal was filling and hit the spot.

I couldn’t finish it, although I had had a lot of pasta for breakfast.

The staff are very friendly, and you can tell they care a lot about their pub and the people who come in.

There were plenty of customers, initially, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t know most by name – but that’s not to say people passing through wouldn’t get the same warm welcome.

The Rose and Crown, which also offers vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, has a wide range of ales, premium draft lagers, ciders and stouts.

It’s worth a visit.