NEVER judge a book by its cover goes the saying, but the beautiful exterior of The Stork Inn at Conder Green, Lancaster, is more than matched by its food, drink and service.

The striking white building is something of a landmark in the Lancaster area and welcomes cyclists, walkers and their dogs.

Run by Tracy Fairbrother and Ian Gelling, you are guaranteed a warm welcome.

Scouring the menu, the first thing to strike me was the presence of South African food –not a recent tie-in with the World Cup but a sign of Tracy’s heritage.

My girlfriend went for the South African option and chose boerewors – sausage and mash with a twist to me and you.

A lightly spiced pure beef sausage, served with sweet potato mash and a warm balsamic, red onion and tomato relish – sounds good doesn't it?

A useful menu option is the fact that if you are hungry you can enjoy a full main meal for £9.95, or choose a half serving at £6.95.

My ever-rumbling belly led me to choose the Lancashire chicken, a pan-fried chicken breast topped with Lancashire cheese and bacon, served on roasted new potatoes and spinach with a creamy cheese sauce. Are you salivating yet?

What went on in my mouth was an almost indescribable festival of amazingly good tastes.

Maybe it was partly to do with the rare sight of the sun shining brightly during summer, but spending an evening in The Stork Inn almost felt like being on holiday, such is the appeal of the restaurant's setting and South African-tinged decor.

The next time you're in the area, take a detour on the A588 and call in for a meal.