Love a bit of laid-back dining? Harper’s Steakhouse has comfort food covered. Part of a small family of steak houses belonging to the Upham Inns group and close to Southampton at the beautiful waterside location of Swanwick, it serves stellar quality steaks and sides, from rump to ribeye and fillet mignon sourced from grass fed, prime British cows.

If that’s not your scene, there’s plenty of other US favourites here too. Like BBQ feasts, mac ‘n’ cheese, juicy burgers, fish or chicken tacos, baby back ribs, Santa Fe salad and delicious loaded waffles. Harper’s is also known for its epic hanging skewers which have real ‘wow’ factor. And there’s plenty of British and European choices too, such as chicken parmigiana, grilled seabass, roasted aubergine and good ol’ fashioned fish and chips.

On Sundays, Harper’s Steakhouse also serves up a fabulous choice of sizeable roasts (comfy trousers at the ready). And there’s other great value menus, from kid’s meals for the nippers to breakfast and brunch, midweek and weekend treat set menus and three-course Thursday ‘mate and date night’ (great idea!).

Like the rest of the Upham Inns group, Harper’s Steakhouse is very dog-friendly, with a canine menu and beds, blankets and welcome boxes for pets staying overnight.

If you’re coming from out of town, book one of the comfortable rooms and you can simply amble upstairs to bed or settle into one of the courtyard rooms. There’s plenty to explore in the local area, from beautiful walks along the River Hamble (did someone say Howard’s Way?) to the Bursledon Brickworks Museum to the nearby shops at Whiteley and Hedge End.