It's always a sign you've come to a good place when you arrive to find it heaving with people - and especially satisfying when you can bypass the crowd in the knowledge you have a booking.

This was very much the case as we walked into The Alexander Pope pub in Twickenham , as crowds of people had spilled into the outdoor seating area to celebrate the start of the weekend, aided by some beautiful weather.

Among the work colleagues, young friends and seasoned regulars letting off steam were also couples who - like us - were simply looking to enjoy a short break in pleasant surroundings.

And thankfully the Alexander Pope can offer something for all these groups of people. The Young's pub has 32 bedrooms and a quieter dining area with table service, meaning it is possible to have a variety of evenings, or even weekends, out, all in one place.

Located in Pope's Grove, the pub is named after the 18th century poet most famous for penning The Rape of the Lock , who made Twickenham his home, and many surrounding roads bear names also linked with the writer.

Nearby are attractions like Hampton Court Palace and of course the home of English rugby, Twickenham Stadium, so there is no shortage of places to visit to justify booking a room in The Alexander Pope.

A new look

The bedrooms, like the outdoor area of the pub, have also been done up and certainly exceed the expectations you might have of a pub B&B, or even many hotels. Some even have balconies, as ours did, overlooking the Thames - albeit through some trees.

One of the bedrooms at The Alexander Pope pub in Twickenham

A newly-refurbished outdoor area welcomes visitors in, complete with a spectacular glass frontage which merges with the more classically decorated interior. My partner remarked that it looked as if the pub had been sawn in half, offering a bright outdoor feel juxtaposed with a cosy and warmly lit bar and dining area.

After settling in with a pint of Young's London IPA and a glass of something red off the comprehensive wine list, it was soon time for dinner.

The pub's meal offering isn't huge, as it instead focuses on delivering these dishes well. The dishes are regularly changed to include seasonal specials.

We started with a British charcuterie sharing board, overflowing with sourdough bread, meats and chilli jelly, garnished with rocket and gherkins.

Of course, it is the main course that you should really judge a dining experience on, and for this we chose the Aberdeen Angus rib-eye steak and Young's beer battered cod and chips.

Both hit the spot, although steak lovers who enjoy their meat pink should make a point of asking for this, as my partner's arrived pretty well done considering she requested it rare.

The steak came with chips, salad, roasted vine tomatoes and the all-important peppercorn sauce, while the fish and chips came with minted mushy peas, a lemon wedge and tartar sauce. I can confirm not a morsel was spared.

To add to pleasant meal, it is important to note that the service was excellent, with all staff offering service with a smile and creating a light and good humoured atmosphere.

Poetic cocktails

Given our comfortable-looking bed was but metres away, there was still plenty of time to sample a few drinks off the menu, including the cocktails.

Being a teacher, my partner was keen to test the pub's staff on their knowledge of the poet that gave their workplace its name. Although we decided not to subject them to an interrogation, it would be unsurprising if they did boast some knowledge, given some of the cocktail names were inspired by his work.

The Turtle and the Sparrow, for example, is named after Pope's classic poem and is a mix of vodka, blue curacao, orange juice and sugar syrup in a martini glass with a black sugar rim. Literature has never tasted so good.

Back to the room, and we resisted the lure of the mini bar to instead enjoy some time on the balcony before climbing into bed (yes it was as comfy as it looked).

Morning brings an optional complimentary newspaper and the usual wake-up call, which we refused hands down given it was a Saturday.

And of course it also brought the prospect of breakfast, which comprises a handful of options for fry-ups as well as porridge to go with the choice of croissants, fruit, toast and more besides on a buffet table. Juices and tea and coffee are all on offer too.

The Alexander Pope, 4 Pope's Grove, Twickenham, TW2 5TA. Call 020 8892 3050, email alexanderpope@youngs.co.uk or visit www.alexanderpope.co.uk . Nearest railway station is Strawberry Hill. Bed and breakfast rooms priced from £89.