CUE a host of jokes about how we should be put away for our articles, reviews and criminal news stories but we thought we would give The Old Prison in Northleach a go.

Admittedly as far as pubs go it is not one, however it does have bars. See what we did there? That will be the last, I promise.

It is in fact a well presented café situated in a former house of correction.

By the 1930s the main cell blocks were out of use and were demolished in 1936-7, along with other buildings.

The site ceased to be used by the police and court services in the 1970s and it is now open as a bit of a museum – we were told that they plan to increase this side of the business with a virtual tour and other exhibitions.

It is very open, ironic for a prison, glass fronted and roofed, with an array of plants dotted everywhere, which makes it feel a little like a greenhouse.

There is a large grassy area at the back of the building that looks like it will be a great dining space in the summer.

Onto the food offering, something else we are told is going to change over the coming months, it is very brunchy and not a sight of gruel or other gaol favourites.

Instead there are tasty sourdough toppings of Old Spot sausage and smoked tomato chutney and the ubiquitous smashed avocado with chilli flakes, cress and toasted seeds.

Our visit was at the weekend so something ‘snacky’ was the order of the day and a tempting Chappel and Oak Smoked Salmon with Sherston free range poached eggs sounded delicious at £9.50, while my partner had a bowl of what was a delicious tomato, spinach and lentil soup, definitely something not enjoyed by inmates of years gone by.

The salmon was delicious and, despite the full restaurant, the service was prompt.

The team were chatty and attentive and were happy to answer any queries we had.

It is licensed so I was able to enjoy a bottle of beer while my guest enjoyed a chai latte at £3.00 and then a bizarre concoction of a pr’oat’bation smoothie for £4.00.

I have heard of them putting ‘something in the tea’ in prisons but this was more of an awakener than to dampen our enthusiasm.

There is a large selection of cakes and all reasonably priced and the perfect end to an early lunch.

The Old Prison is certainly somewhere we would visit again with more to come.

Despite its grizzly history it is somewhere we could happily ‘do time’.