The Potting Shed, Guiseley

If you have ever done any banking in Guiseley chances are that you will have been into the building where this latest branch of The Potting Shed is located.

After months of work to convert Guiseley's former HSBC bank, The Potting Shed Bar and Gardens opened just before Christmas.

Setting itself apart from its competitors, the theme for the bar is that of gardening so expect plenty of green touches right through the bar, lots of hanging baskets and plant pots.

It is certainly different and unless you have been to one of the other Potting Sheds in Bingley, Northallerton or Beverley it will come as a new experience.

There is a terrace upstairs which has a retractable roof allowing it to be used all year round. They also have a Gin bar upstairs along with a large colourful outdoor shed for booth seating.

It was a typical winter's night when we visited: the rain was lashing down outside monsoon style and a chilly wind, ensued which felt like summer was a distant memory. It was comforting to enter a warm pub with an equally warm atmosphere.

Being just opposite the train station there were quite a lot of commuters who had called in for a pre-meal drink along with other groups of teenage families and couples.

As well as having the usual cocktails they serve many Yorkshire beers such as Blonde Rogue and also beers brewed at the Wishbone Brewery in Keighley.

The menu has pizzas starting from £6.95, all made with freshly prepared dough and cooked in a wood fired oven, chargrilled burgers served with fries starting at £7.75, pasta and classics such as fish and chips and marinated chicken kebab amongst other favourites.

I thought we might share a dish of Halloumi Fries for a starter. Priced at £5.95 the salty fries dressed in Mediterranean spices and natural yogurts seemed very rich and perhaps better enjoyed as a small plate which is how they were advertised.

These days most burger places are going for the usual burger in a brioche bun, but what I found tempting was the Yorkshire burger - a beef patty with melted Yorkshire Blue and bacon between a couple of Yorkshire puddings. I found it to be a solid, tasty burger with the blue cheese adding bite. The Yorkshire Puddings weren't bad either!

My partner went for the Classic Margherita with an extra topping of ham. Cheesy and not too doughy it tasted like it had been cooked in Genoa not Guiseley.

The dessert menu only has 3 choices on it. I went for the Toffee Popcorn Sundae which although it could have been presented in a better taller glass, was moreish, not too sweet with the butter sweet popcorn giving it extra flavour.

My partner's Hot Chocolate and Peanut Butter Fudge Cake tasted more of peanut butter than chocolate, but was a large serving priced at £4.25.

Keeping the Yorkshire connection going the coffee is from Seasons who are based at Silsden. Robust, aromatic and full of character it was what I call 'proper coffee'.

They have live music on too from 7pm. We enjoyed hearing Izak Wilkinson from Bradford. I asked for a request which he didn't know, but he offered to learn the song for our next visit, which summed up the service and ethos of The Potting Shed - friendly and willing to please.

The Potting Shed, Oxford Road, Guiseley LS20 8AA
Telephone: 08455 000999
www.pottingshedbar.com