SITUATED in the lanes leading down to the Gwent wetlands at Goldcliff. Newport, , the Farmer's Arms is a traditional country pub with an emphasis on home-cooked pub food and generous proportions.

We called in on a quiet Friday night in November and were among just a handful of diners and pub regulars.

For starters, we chose garlic mushrooms and Lincolnshire sausage, opting for main courses of steak and lasagne, both accompanied by servings of chunky chips.

From a food perspective there were no complaints - all the dishes were well-cooked and presented with huge portions which left us full and more than satisfied.

The only downside was the smoky atmosphere which we found pretty uncomfortable - perhaps a non-smoking area could be designated to separate diners from pub goers.

However, it did not detract greatly from a pleasant and enjoyable meal that was good value at £18 for two courses for two people plus a couple of drinks. Gareth Phillips