Timbrell's Yard

St Margaret's Street

Bradford on Avon

01225 869492

AFTER a £1.5m refurbishment Timbrell's Yard, formerly The Riverside Inn, opened again last month.

And it's virtually unrecognisable. The old games room has been knocked down to make way for a pretty outside seating area, and a small gravel car park. Inside it's got the feel of a swanky gastro pub with a rustic twist - wooden floors, rope railings, and oars on the wall outside the toilets - a nod to the building's past as a canoe club.

The bar area was busy with locals keen to try out Bradford's newest drinking establishment, but we grabbed a couple of seats in the small snug, with its distressed metal tables, and wedged ourselves amongst the colourful embroidered cushions. There is also a separate dining room with an open kitchen and a relaxed cafeteria feel.

We opted to share a salad of honey-roasted squash, grilled Homewood halloumi, coriander, hazelnuts, barley, yoghurt and three sharing plates: venison chipolatas with a deliciously earthy mushroom ketchup; parsnip and smoked Dorset red croquettes, which were light and fluffy and came with a truffle aioli; and, after a recommendation from the waitress, duck croquettes, filled with moist shredded meat, with a hint of Asian flavours, and a sesame and carrot salad.

We were worried we might not have ordered enough but the portions were generous enough for two to share and the food was delicious: well-seasoned and beautifully presented on colourful plates. The halloumi was a little over-grilled but that was our only complaint.

The staff, despite the pub having not been open for long, were efficient and friendly, clearing plates promptly, and the bill for food and a bottle of Prosecco came to a very reasonable £42.25.

Andrea Ball