The Tollgate Inn, Ham Green, Holt, near Bradford on Avon, BA14 6PX.

(01225) 782326

It was a beautiful Saturday evening when we arrived at the Tollgate Inn in the picturesque village of Holt.

The car park was nearly full – always a good sign – and we debated eating outside in the garden with its views over a river meadow before deciding it was too cold and going into the crowded bar.

The waitresses were efficient, but too busy to be friendly, possibly because we had chosen to dine on the day that the pub’s new country store, Seasons, had opened.

The shop offers local garden produce which is brought to the pub by village gardeners, and sold alongside the usual deli range of fish, organic meat, artisan breads and cheeses. Cookery and craft demonstrations are also promised in future.

Our host – the first really friendly member of staff – was delighted to tell us about the opening which had been enormously successful.

She said that the pub had for some years swapped villagers’ spare produce for bottles of wine or other goodies. It sounds such a good way of getting rid of surplus courgettes – or whatever else grows well in your garden – rather than eating them at every meal.

We pursued the menu, offering what the pub describes as modern English with a Mediterranean feel, while eating home made bread and oils.

Starters ranged in price from £4 to £5.50 while the main courses were from £13.50 to £17.50 and puddings around £5.95.

In the end, we chose from the specials board, our choice of dishes having a distinctly nautical theme.

Two of the four of us chose Cornish mussels in white wine, cream, garlic and herbs while the other two decided to go for poached turbot.

The turbot was lovely and the sauce particularly yummy. The only criticism was that it came without additional vegetables, and I would have gladly swapped half of the fish in favour of fresh vegetables. The moules were also very tasty.

We decided to forgo the puddings, although they sounded good and included creme brulee and dark chocolate torte. The bill came to just over £70 for the four of us, to include drinks.

16th-century free house specialising in local ales from small brewers

Two dining rooms, both with open fires

Set in two acres with mature gardens, terraces, gazebos, sheep, goats and chickens.

Our Eating Out is an independent review carried out by the Gazette without prior knowledge of the owners.