HISTORIC pub The Northey Arms is a bustling place for food and drinks, with hotel rooms attached, a decent sized car park and delicious food.

It was a treat to review this pub and have the chance to step inside what has always seemed like a popular destination in Box, on the outskirts of Bath.

The website boasts that playwright Noel Coward once stepped through its doors and it is just a short walk from Isambard Kingdom Brunels’ Box Tunnel. We hadn’t booked as we were dining early and naively thought all would be fine. Despite being busy they squeezed us into a lovely spot.

We chose the Tempura Fried Tiger Prawns, with Rocket and Sweet Chilli Dip (£7.95) and a salad that included quails egg, croutons, goats cheese olives and greenery.

It was and I quote “the best salad I have ever tasted” according to tasters Robby and Becki, who came on the trip out with me.

The prawns also looked delicious and while Charlie enjoyed them I think even he was looking on with envy at the salad, due to the expressions of delight at their plates from the other two.

I plumped for the Marinated Mixed Olives and Homemade Bread with Aged Balsamic and Rapeseed Oil (£4.75) which although sounds very simple compared to the other dishes, meant I could enjoy some freshly baked bread and the huge olives.

The starter was exactly what it said it was, bread and olives but still tasty and fulfilling.

Moving on to the mains, we tried the Chicken Grill, Brie, Bacon, Onion Marmalade gourmet burger (£14), the Tiger Prawn Linguine with Lemon, Tomato, Chilli, Garlic and Parsley (£15.75) and the 200g rump steak served with Homemade Chips, Green Beans, Vine Cherry Tomatoes (£19).

I ate the linguine and it was fantastic. Again quite a simple dish, essentially prawns and spaghetti but the sauce was full of flavour, a bit of kick, just the right amount of oil and still not overpowering the prawns. The portion size was generous without leaving a stuffed feeling and when we hopefully visit again I would quite happily order the same dish. The other dinners happily ate their food too and seemed to enjoy themselves.

By now it was about 7pm and the pub was full of groups, including families with children alongside couples dining together.

The bar area is a decent size but the food section is quite separate so the two do not intrude upon each other.

For dessert Becki and I had a chocolate fondant with ice cream which I am pretty sure was salted caramel flavour (£6.50).

Although the menu now seems to have changed, the choice was delicious and if I spotted it on the menu I would pick it again.

The last comment goes to friend Charlie who told me as soon as we left “the atmosphere and staff were great, the whole place seemed welcoming to everyone. I think the menu was varied and not too big.”

The meal for four starters, four mains, two desserts, a bottle of wine and several beers was £150.