Old Bank in Swindon gives service you can bank on

NEVER under-estimate the power of front of house staff. A good waiter or waitress can enhance a good menu and a great chef, encouraging diners to stay a little longer, eat a little more and indulge in one for the road; a bad one can almost instantly tarnish an otherwise enjoyable experience - how many times have you left a tip begrudgingly because your server had the charisma of a flea and did virtually nothing to make you feel welcome and wanted?

We only popped into The Old Bank for a cup of tea and a bite to eat as fuel for a day of Christmas shopping, but our waitress (Danielle) was so delightful, so amiable, so engaging (and the food so good, I hasten to add - we didn't just sit there chatting) that we ended up spending 90 minutes and the best part of £50 on our 'light' breakfast for four, and I'd do it all again tomorrow.

It was a warm welcome from the moment we walked in. With a winter chill setting in outside, we weren't the only ones seeking refuge from the plummeting temperatures and in need of a good breakfast to set us up for the day. The seating at the front of the restaurant was full at 11am - always a good sign - but we were offered our pick of the tables further inside. The barman even issued a cheery 'good morning' as we walked past and took our seats in a booth.

The brunch menu isn't huge but it pretty much has all bases covered. After a heavy-ish evening of food and drink the night before, carbs were called for and between us we ordered one eggs Benedict (£6.95), one eggs Florentine (£6.50), a bacon and sausage sandwich (£4.95) and a full English (£8.50).

With a combined age of 200-plus between us, it is safe to say we have reached an age where we know what we like. Pleasingly, barely an eyebrow was raised on Danielle's smiley face when we requested extra sausage instead of black pudding with the full English, brown granary bread instead of a white roll for the sandwich and a portion of English mustard - on the side, not on the sandwich - to go with the bacon.

Three cups of tea (£1.95 each) and a large glass of orange juice (£3.50) arrived ahead of the food, the teabags left on the side to be dunked according to individual taste - a nice touch.

Thirsts quenched, it was time for the main event. My eggs Benedict (toasted muffin with bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce) was beautifully presented, as was the eggs Florentine (the same thing, with spinach in place of the bacon). The hollandaise liberally drizzled over the top had a piquancy which cut through the saltiness of the bacon and was truly delicious. It was £7 very well spent.

The roll-turned-sandwich was, well... just that. Nothing remarkable but substantial, with thick slabs of bloomer bread, two sausages and two rashers, and it was just want the eater wanted.

But it was the full English that took star billing. One thick rasher of bacon, two sausages, two fried eggs, a field mushroom and half a tomato arrived in their own cast iron frying pan, with two slices of toast and tiny saucepan of baked beans on the side (heaven forbid the sauce from the beans should touch the other food). The clever presentation put a smile on everyone's face and became the talking point at the table for some time.

Which brings me back to Danielle, who was a frequent visitor back and forth during the meal to check on our wellbeing and a real pleasure to talk to, with a great sense of humour and some cracking anecdotes to relay.

It turns out that the day before our visit a couple had arrived for a spot of lunch and ended up staying a mammoth 11 hours, with friends joining them later for dinner and drinks all round.

I can't help thinking Danielle and her cheery disposition had something to do with their decision. Give that girl a pay rise, I say!

The Old Bank

18 Wood Street

Old Town, Swindon SN1 4AB

Tel: 01793 527798

www.tobb.co.uk

Parking: none, but plenty nearby

Disabled access: yes, to ground floor

Adver ratings:

Food: 10/10

Choice: 9/10

Decor: 9/10

Customer service: 10/10

Brunch dishes: from £4.95 to £8.50

TripAdvisor rating: 4/5