WORD was spreading fast about the transformation of an old pub in the west of the city.

Yet another bar taken over, stripped to the bare essentials and re-invented in a bid to turn around its flagging fortunes.

The Thornwood had been shut for a few months and when it re-opened the good news was it now served food.

It was time to check it out, so I suggested an evening in the pub to the Moll.

Thornwood is not the best place for parking a beast like the Buick so we made other travel plans.

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My advice. Take public transport or shanks’ pony if you are close enough.

We hadn’t long sat down when I spotted a concerned look on the Moll’s face.

“I’m not sure you should be in here, Tec.” she said to me, dryly.

I looked puzzled, then she pointed to a bright red neon sign on the wall. It spelled out “No Bams”.

It was going to be one of those nights.

The changes are wholesale. Full length windows make it brighter. The décor is modern, with exposed brick in the front of the bar and wood panelling towards the rear, where it is quieter, cosy and darker.

First impressions were more than good but the reason we were there was the food.

The menu offered, burgers, curry and salads but with plenty of interesting variation in each category to suit different tastes.

The Moll plumped for the panko breaded katsu chicken curry which came with sticky rice and a veg pickle.

There was also a katsu portobello mushroom curry.

The chicken was nicely presented, had a tasty crispy coating and the curry sauce was light.

I had the mac and cheese which is available in a variety of styles, classic, French, Italian, Mexican, Spanish and Welsh, each with its own added ingredients.

So I choose the French Mac, which was mushroom, caramelised onion with gruyere cheese and it arrived with a small portion of fries.

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The menu is not extensive, with one soup and no dessert offered, so if you want a three course restaurant meal then maybe look elsewhere.

If however, you want a good pub serving good pub food but a little different to the standard fish and chips/steak pie selection, then you won’t be disappointed.

The Moll was mighty impressed as she declared: “I would have that again and I would come back to try the other dishes.” I had to agree.

There has been a lot of cash invested in this place by the new owners, that is obvious to anyone who had been the bar before it closed.

And refreshingly the prices were not hiked up hugely because of that.

One of the owners was present, hands on, friendly and helpful dealing with customers and maybe also on the look out for any bams who managed to slip through.

BILL

French Mac - £8

Chicken Katsu - £8.50

Pint Neck Oil ale - £5.20

Sauvignon blanc 175ml x2 - £9

Total £30.70

REVIEW

FOOD - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

ATMOSPHERE - ⭐⭐⭐

SERVICE - ⭐⭐⭐⭐