Tucked into the foot of the hill, around the corner from the bottom of Sally in the Woods, this pub will be a familiar landmark to those who make the journey to and from Bath.

It has been spruced up of late, so we decided it was worth a try for a Saturday evening meal.

We hadn’t booked and, when confronted with a busy looking bar and plenty of people already eating, I wondered whether we would get a table.

However, the friendly staff pointed out a vacant spot for us and, clutching a pint of Doom Bar and a half of Thatchers, we sat down to study the menus.

The Crown offers a set menu and an a la carte with a good range of pub and bistro favourites, all with a French flavour.

For starters, we both opted for mussels and generous portions of these arrived, steaming in a pool of delicious garlic and onion-flavoured juices.

Remember to ask for bread to soak this up.

My main course was a minute steak with pepper sauce and fries and there was a Bath Gem steak & ale pie with mash and gravy for Alison.

The steak was tender and didn’t need the sharper knife offered by the attentive waitress. The piquant pepper sauce was served in its own pot and the fries – a generous portion – were beautifully thin cut and cooked.

Alison’s golden-crusted pie was served atop a circle of mash, encircled by a moat of rich, red wine gravy. Silbury Hill sprang to mind.

The pie lived up to its promise, with delicious chunks of beef which melted in the mouth.

Pleasantly full, we passed on pudding, opting for another round of drinks instead.

The pub’s bistro-style decor – walls covered with an eclectic selection of prints, signs and paintings – and its warm ambience make it a pleasant place to spend an evening.

It is a definite improvement on when we last visited the Crown a few years ago.

Our bill for starters, mains and two rounds of drinks came to £40, with the option to add a tip, which I was very happy to do.

*Opening hours: Noon onwards, daily.

* Food served: Noon-3pm, 6pm-9.30pm Monday-Friday, kitchen open all day Saturday and Sunday.

* Parking: On edge of courtyard and road opposite.
* Garden: Tables at the front and garden to the rear.
* Children: Welcome, highchairs available.