GILL HARRIS checks out the refurbished MacKenzies and finds a fresh new look with the same old delicious food and friendly service

MacKenzies 16 Wood Street, Swindon Tel: 01793 430111

Website: www.mackenzies.co.uk

Don’t go changing, Billy Joel once sang, and it’s sage advice.

Many a popular bar has sucumbed to a makeover only to find its loyal clientele prefer it how it was before and slink off, grumbling, to inhabit new haunts.

So when MacKenzies shut up shop in January for a revamp, its regular customers were left out in the cold and on tenterhooks as to what the new style bar would be like.

Clearly, in this case, MacKenzies got it right for the Wood Street venue is as busy as ever – perhaps even more so.

The bar and restaurant have been given a makeover upstairs and down, leaving it fresher and more modern, with new paving in the beer garden.

It’s already become so familiar it’s hard to remember what it was like before – and perhaps that’s the key to genuinely good rejuvenation, making sure a place simply looks like a newer, brighter version of itself.

Stripped wood, bare bricks and an eclectic collection of curiosities such as old Singer sewing machines and vintage typewriters give the place a funky, almost Scandi feel (without the noir, I’m pleased to report).

The menu boasts all the old familiar favourites, with a wide selection of (in my opinion) some of the best burgers in town, plus pizzas, nachos and fajitas, steaks, salads, wraps, sandwiches and more.

But just to make absolutely, doubly sure everything really was in order, a couple of friends and I decided it would be a good ideas to drop in one Tuesday evening and give the tapas menu a thorough going over.

The list of dishes is as long as your arm, and we managed to order at least a wrist-to-elbow’s worth.

Among them were spicy chicken quesadilla served with sour cream, calamari, honey glazed shredded pork, grilled black pudding and spicy chorizo, chickpea, spinach and potato salad, spicy meatballs and lemongrass king prawn skewers. All were extremely tasty, bursting with freshness and very, very moreish.

We took advantage of two deals always on offer at MacKenzies – three tapas for £10 and six for £18, bringing our food bill to £28.

Not bad for three people who were decidedly peckish after a long day at work.

A bottle of house white and a few Portuguese Sagres Cerveja beers washed it all down splendidly.

And, as always, the staff were friendly and engaging, making for a thoroughly relaxing, familiar and happy atmosphere.

So, MacKenzies, thanks for changing – but thanks for not changing too much. We love you just the way you are.