Probably the first thing you’ll notice about The Royal Oak in Bushey is the colour; the walls, both inside and out, are painted a deep teal. Walking in, especially on a sunny day, can be a bit disorienting as at first it can feel quite dark. But once you’ve settled down at one of the tables – perhaps in an armchair in front of the fire – the colour makes sense. It is, quite simply, extremely cosy.

The Royal Oak has recently undergone a refurbishment and now styles itself as a gastropub serving the best in British and global cuisine. The interior looks like Instagram heaven, with plants hanging in pots from the ceiling near the windows, lightboxes and succulents on the shelves, velvet-topped bar stools and copper accessories.

Everything on the menu is made in-house, from the green curry sauce to the brioche burger buns, and the menu changes according to the season. Every member of staff is friendly and happy to help, and our waitress eagerly answered any questions we had regarding the food.

Traditional recipes are served with a clever twist that inevitably works so well you wonder ‘why has no one else thought of this?’. For example, the cheeseburger is made with an intriguing combo of rib, chuck and bone marrow.

We enjoyed two appetisers before our main meal. The first, beetroot and cheese croquettes, were crispy with a soft, tangy centre. The second appetiser of fermented potato bread (an invention of the wonderfully creative chef) with chive and garlic dip was delicious and a clever alternative to ordinary restaurant breadsticks.

For mains, I opted for the stone bass fillet with smoked tomato minestrone and basil gnochetti. The fish was beautifully soft and flaky, with crispy skin, and the minestrone added wonderful depth of flavour. The portion was just the right size, sating my appetite without leaving me feeling too full. My friend chose the super green curry with potato noodles, coconut and coriander sambal, which was spicy and tasty.

For dessert we chose to share the chocolate doughnuts, cinnamon sugar and chocolate custard. Yes, they were just as delicious as they sound – served still warm – and the chocolate custard was a thing of beauty.

The Royal Oak is ideally suited for all seasons; in summer you can relax in the large beer garden with a beer or glass of wine from the extensive drinks menu, and in winter you can cosy up inside with a plate of something delicious and warming.

The Royal Oak, 42 Sparrows Herne, Bushey. Details: 020 8950 9765 the royaloakbushey.com