Seventeen Wessex Ladies gathered for our second Ladies Lunch for 2011. This was a first visit to the Greyhound for a Wessex event and members were certainly not disappointed.

This family-run 15th century inn is now a stylish gastro-pub, situated in Stockbridge’s main street, with the River Test flowing past at the end of the garden. With the summer weather being even more unpredictable than usual, it was with some relief that the day turned out to be fine so that pre-lunch drinks could be enjoyed on the patio.

The three-course lunch consisted of twice-baked Isle of Wight souffle with cress salad, followed by canon of Welsh lamb on a bed of fine french beans, broad beans and fresh peas and, finally, vanilla panna cotta with champagne poached strawberries. The meal was accompanied by a French viognier and a delicious Rioja.