ON a drizzly Monday afternoon, after the work day had ended, a workmate and I decided to hop on the train to Bradford On Avon to find ourselves a hearty meal to brighten up our spirits.

After trying the majority of the restaurants in Bradford we decided to venture slightly further down the canal to The Barge Inn.

Having walked past it on numerous occasions I felt like it may be worth a try.

As we walked in I noticed the great amount of space that the restaurant had. With three different areas to choose from (not including the massive garden) we were spoilt for choice. Due to the poor weather the business wasn’t exactly booming, but then again it was a pretty grim Monday evening.

We chose our table and had a look at the menu, which I must admit wasn’t packed with choice but had a variety of different tastes.

The specials board also offered some interesting options but I instantly set my sights on the shortcrust steak and ale pie with beef gravy, seasonal veg and chips (£12.95) along with a nacho plate starter.

Richard opted for the fish pie topped with cheese mash and seasonal veg (£9.95) which I admit did look really quite nice.

The nachos (£5.50) arrived, topped with homemade guacamole, sour cream and salsa, and was quite good, the homemade sauces were tasty but there was a lack of salsa in comparison to the other two.

Not long after we had finished, and I took the chance to have another Peroni (£4.10), our main courses were delivered to the table.

I was presented with a large portion of veg, which was all cooked to perfection, as well as a massive serving of the pie.

The shortcrust pastry was fantastic, if a little tough on the underneath, and the steak was deliciously seasoned and fell apart in the mouth.

With lashings of the beef gravy I worked my way through the meal, enjoying each bite more than the last.

Richard’s fish pie also went down well, with little need to season the food with the salt and pepper on the table.

Overall, we finished the meal both satisfied with our choices.

Another positive about the evening was the service we received from our waiter, who was attentive without being overbearing and was happy to have a chat with us.

In total our meal cost £43.05 for one starter, two mains and two drinks each. In all honesty I was expecting it to break the bank, so I was pleasantly surprised.

I would return to The Barge Inn, but would probably leave it for a sunnier day when you have the option to sit next to the canal and watch the world go by.

The Barge Inn

17 Frome Road

Bradford On Avon

BA15 2EA

01225 863403 thebargeinn.co.uk

Parking: on site

Gazette ratings: Food: 9/10

Choice: 7/10

Décor 8/10

Ambience: 8/10

Main course prices: £7.50-£16

Tripadvisor rating: 4/5