THE Old Fleece at Rooksmoor is housed in a glorious old coaching inn and posting house that sits along the busy Bath Road.

It’s a magnificent building with beautiful architectural details and possessing a great charm.

I enter via the summertime entrance of large double-doors on the front of the building.

They make for a great approach - flung open as they are onto a super little outside terrace, with bench-style tables and large umbrellas.

The main bar is a lovely, well-proportioned room but I am somewhat disappointed that the decor doesn’t really embrace its historical heritage.

With a hotpotch of styles, wood and furniture – the interior is lovely, but not quite as splendid as its architectural setting leads you to expect.

It is what I’d call a faux rustic chic but it is a little tired and if I’m honest, could do with a spruce up.

It’s less pub than it is brasserie with a large dining room to the left.

Indeed, owners Nick Beardsley and Christophe Coquoin who started the pub in 1993, describe on their website that it is now “a buzzing restaurant and bar.”

The pub is part of their portfolio that includes the Old Lodge on Minchinhampton Common as well as four serviced apartments that are advertised in paraphernalia on the tables.

Inside The Fleece, the bar runs alongside the far wall, with two young and cordial staff members standing behind to readily greet me.

An enticing gin menu stands on the bar in front of me, but unfortunately, I had to opt for a rather watery Frobishers juice instead (£2.80).

I had fancied a light meal or sandwiches, but regrettably there was no gluten-free bread other than a burger bun so I ordered a vegetarian spicy bean burger (£11.95), served with a side of fries and the Fleece’s own coleslaw.

Portion sizes weren’t particularly generous, but were dished up neatly on a wooden board and the burger was perfectly proportioned for a small appetite. The other clientele, of which there must have been some 22, with many tables empty, seemed more than satisfied with their food.

Modern artwork adorned the walls and made for a nice point of difference. Somebody has a good sense of humour I thought as I found myself gazing at a pert naked blue bottom of a nude!

In short? This is brisk business and it was a little too perfunctory on this visit. A nice establishment but somewhat lacking in detail and depth. The pub’s paraphernalia promised a “fantastic” experience although I’m not sure this is how I’d describe this experience.