SWINDON may not have a Hard Rock Cafe - but it does have something even better.

While you can look at the gold discs and rock artefacts behind glass at the Hard Rocks around the world - you can watch spikey-haired punks setting up their drum kits while you munch on your burgers at Riff's Bar in Greatfield on the edge of the town.

If you fancy a burger during national barbecue week but don't want to do the cooking yourself, it's an interesting place to grab a bite.

Riff's was the winner of The Publican magazine's music pub of the year award in 2005 and 2006 and highly commended in 2007.

Live music is performed there every evening and it's a popular spot with musicians as well as customers.

Deborah Bonham - the sister of Led Zeppelin's late drummer, John - was so struck by Riff's when she first played there that she said: "If I sell a million albums, I'm still coming back to Riff's.'' The bar boasts its own in-house PA system and lighting, along with in-house engineers.

On a recent visit with my children, we were delighted to watch a band, whose members spouted lurid blue and green spikey hairstyles, set up their gear while we tucked in to our giant burgers.

While there are some veggie options, along with curries and pasta choices - the burgers are what it's really all about.

"We have invested in a chargrill to give a great flavour and are offering a kind of Hard Rock Cafe menu,'' said Andy Pett, who runs Riff's with his partner Tiggy York.

"We are specialising in locally sourced Aberdeen Angus burgers with all the trimmings.'' They are certainly good, from the quality of the rolls through to the fresh salad, crispy skin-on fries and tasty sauces and dips.

And part of the fun of the burgers, which range in price from £4.95 to £5.95 are in their names and seeing if you work out why they have them.

The Virginia Plain, named after the Roxy Music song, (£4.95) is indeed a no frills burger; the Smokey Robinson (£5.95) sports smoked bacon and cheese and the Bee Cheese (Bee Gees) mature cheddar.

Some of them are a bit trickier - but the Marillion double white fish fillet burger (£5.45) becomes clear when you remember the lead singer is called Fish.

And I particularly liked that the pork, lime and chilli burger (£4.95) was called Limehouse Chilli. So that's a burger named after a band (Limehouse Lizzy) which is a tribute to another group (Thin Lizzy).

Personally - and I'm a hack, after all - I like a good pun but even if they are not to your taste, the burgers will be!

Riff's Bar

26 Greatfield, near Hook, Swindon, SN4 8EQ.Telephone 01793 778304

Website www.zyworld.com/Riff/

Food served from 5pm to 9:30pm. A limited menu is available after the bands finish on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays please give advance notice if you want to eat after 8pm.