Down by the riverside in Bewdley there is a place where dogs watch the world go by as their owners tuck into gourmet burgers.

And there is never any scraps left for the pooches at the Cock and Magpie because the burgers are a world away from a Big Mac or even the Whopper.

The menu at the pub, which has denim seats a cowhide cushions, is refreshingly simple.

Fish and chips with mushy peas are courtesy of Merchants Fish Restaurant next door but the gourmet burgers are all from the head chef of the Cock and Magpie. All the burgers and relishes are made on the premises and each comes served in a brioche bun.

The Flyer is the classic burger (£6.50) , The Fat Controller has a prime beef patty with grilled bacon, onions, mushrooms and a soft fried egg (£8.90), the Tequila Express Prime has salsa, guacamole, nachos, crème fraiche, jalapenos and cheese (£8.90).

The Mumbai Metro has a spiced lamb patty made with garlic, ginger, lemon and coriander, with mint yoghurt, mango chutney and an onion bhajia (£8.90) whereas the Cock Express (also the name of the miniature railway attached the pub's ceiling is grilled Cajun chicken breast with double bacon and cheese (£8.50) The Chatanooga Choo Choo is the vegetarian option with a slightly spiced home-made veggie bean burger with grilled mushrooms and garlic mayonnaise(£6.90) The owner Paul recommended I had the Mumbai Metro and the damsel went for the Fat Controller.

The blend of Indian flavours in the Mumbai Metro complimented one another perfectly and it was like having a curry in a bun, which could be the next big thing.

Both burgers looked huge on arrival but were quickly demolished, the Fat Controller with its fried egg and bacon was more of a classic style burger but brilliantly done.

Perhaps we should have ordered either the fries (£2), ale battered onion rings (£2), house blueslaw with sweet corn (£2) because as we looked at our empty burger baskets (plates are so 20th century) we agreed there was still a little gap to fill.

However, there were no desserts on the menu, so I popped to the Merchants serving hatch next to the pub and bought strawberries, cream and chocolate waffle to share (£4). It really was a pudding for the ages, and was the perfect ending to a great dinner.

We shall certainly be returning to the Cock and Magpie (www.thecockandmagpie.com) in Bewdley, we might even bring the dog, but he will not be getting any of our gourmet burgers, that's for sure.