I’M not usually a fan of gastro pubs; I like going to either a pub or a restaurant, not a combination of the two.

But after researching the best places to eat in Bath and seeing The Marlborough Tavern appear on a few lists, I was curious to find out if it was good enough to change my opinion on establishments which set themselves up to be two things at once.

The early signs were good; the interior design of the 18th Century pub, situated directly opposite Bath Approach Golf Course, was elegant and the atmosphere was to a tee but it still had a 'fairway' to go to win me over (sorry, no more golf puns).

My friend India and I were shown to our table in a small alcove facing the bar and handed two menus by the waiter, who was attentive throughout the evening.

A quick perusal was all it took to realise that this is a place which doesn’t serve your ordinary pub grub, with the likes of pan roasted venison loin and oven roasted partridge crown featuring on the mouthwatering list.

For a starter I had the spicy parsnip and coconut cream soup with a side helping of thick, crispy bread. There wasn’t as much spice as the name might have suggested, but that didn't bother me too much.

And that's because while spice levels may have been lacking, there was no doubting its flavour; it was absolutely superb. Furthermore, the texture, which arguably sets a good soup apart from a great soup, was spot on, making it a very satisfying opener.

I opted for the butternut squash, chestnut mushroom and leek risotto for my main course. It looked good and tasted even better. The flavours of the butternut squash and mushroom complemented each other very well. It was, however, incredibly stodgy, so I didn’t manage to finish the whole plate, but that wasn’t an indictment of the dish’s quality.

India went for the tea cured salmon, orange, fennel and beetroot, horseradish creme fraiche, a starter on the menu which she requested to be made larger to make it the size of a main. It was a very well presented dish with, according to her, a lot of contrasting flavours and textures.

I didn’t have enough room for any form of food after my risotto so decided to leave it there. India however went for the crème brûlée.

To our surprise it wasn’t just a crème brûlée, but was instead a trio of small deserts; the creme brûlée as well as a small mound of ice cream, a dried pineapple ring and a dough ball.

It wasn't quite she expected but was still a scrumptious way to end the meal, she said.

The gastro pub is highly ranked among the city’s foodies for its high quality home cooking and emphasis on seasonal produce, and we both agreed that it’s easy to see why after we’d finished eating.

With a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than what you’d expect to find in a restaurant but still with high quality food you would associate with an acclaimed restaurant, a trip to The Marlborough Tavern has definitely made me see gastro pubs in a new, far more positive light.

Ratings:

Food: 8/10

Choice: 8/10

Décor: 9/10

Customer service: 8/10

Main course prices: From £11.50 to £23.50

TripAdvisor rating: 4.5/5