HAVING driven past the Harp and Crown regularly after trips to the gym, we set out to see whether we were right to have rumbling stomachs every time we entered the pretty village of Gastard, near Corsham.

It was a sunny afternoon so we sat outside, which was set up with picnic benches and plenty of space for families and friends to meet comfortably and watch children play in the garden area.

The atmosphere was relaxed and informal, and we had a very friendly welcome from the bar staff, who let us pick our own table.

We were celebrating our friends’ recent marriage and were eager to hear all about their honeymoon, so we stayed outside for a drink before moving indoors once it got chillier.

It was already getting quite busy despite being about 6.30pm on a Friday night. The four of us sat at a large table by the window which was quiet enough to hear each other talk but still be part of the hustle and bustle.

You go up to the bar to order food and drinks so we took it in turns to place an order. We picked the mussels to share as a starter and a friend had wild mushrooms on toast.

The River Fowey mussels with ginger, lemongrass and chilli (£8 as starter, £12 as a main with fries) were delicious. A personal favourite, we had high hopes and were not let down.

There were loads of them, enough to share for a starter happily and the sauce was rich and tasty. They came with bread that helped soak up all the sauce, so nothing was wasted.

The mushrooms on toast offered a good portion that was presented artistically and the plate was completely cleared. A good sign.

Several of the gourmet burgers were picked as well as the famous Gastard sausages. With a name like that it was hard to resist.

The Gourmet steak burger, brioche bun, bacon, Wiltshire cheddar, onions, slaw, fries and salad (£12) was stuffed full of toppings, the only slightly negative comment was that the burger was a bit dry. However, the dish was greedily eaten and satisfied noises were made.

The Gastard sausages, creamy mash, grilled onions, seasonal greens, and red wine gravy were delicious. Dripping in gravy, the dish was not a typical choice for a warm summery day but it didn’t matter. The mash-to-sausages ratio was spot on.

We spotted a darts board nearby and played a couple of rounds to work off the food, however we were feeling totally stuffed and unable to order a pudding each.

Instead we finished with a pudding to share, a cheesecake served with ice cream, but there was a varied choice of puddings on offer from around £5.

We were there for a few hours having drinks and completely lost track of time so by the time we left the pub was alive with both regulars and groups enjoying the food.

If you want somewhere where you will receive a cheery welcome but also be given the space to enjoy spending quality time with friends then this will be a great choice.

The meal was £126 for four adults having starters, mains, shared desserts and two rounds of drinks.