IT was a cold night and we sought sanctuary in The Whole Hog in Malmesbury. It proved a good choice. Despite the sub-zero temperatures the cold evening had not put people off and the pub was busy with all the tables taken.

The pub serves a selection of real ales and is a meeting place for North Wilts CAMRA.

There is an adjoining restaurant in a separate room where we went.

We were the only diners in the restaurant but that didn't worry us. We could choose where to sit and we selected a table in the large window offering a panoramic view.

The Whole Hog has a superb location.

It's in the Market Square and we watched the hustle bustle of Malmesbury which at first consisted of youngsters riding very impressively on their skateboards in front of the Market Cross. Our visit on a Tuesday evening coincided with bell ringing practice nearby which was pleasant to hear.

The restaurant has a good blend of old and new. The wooden floorboards looked ancient while the wooden table and chairs we used seemed pretty old but there is contemporary dcor with two tone colours, dado rail and prints on the walls.

The lighting was subtle and each table had large church style' white candles.

The Whole Hog has an impressive history having been the cottage hospital from 1897 to 1925 and then the gas board showrooms.

The pub has a good choice of food and the restaurant offers more than the usual fare.

For starters I had pate with home made chutney with toast (£4.00). I don't know what type of pate it was but it was tasty.

Keith had the soup of the day which was tomato and olive (£3.50). He'd not had this before and said it was delicious with a sharp, refreshing taste.

For main course Keith had chicken breast with pancetta, wild mushrooms and stilton sauce, new potatoes and salad (£9.00) while I had one of the Whole Hog classics, local Malmesbury sausages and mash with onion gravy (£8.00).

Other choices on the menu included steak and fish and the main courses ranged in price from £7 to £12 which we thought was good value.

Keith's chicken was gorgeous, I know because he cut me a bit off. It was wonderfully tender and I made a mental note to remember this dish for future visits.

Keith was impressed with the food and said he would make a point of returning to eat there.

My dish consisted of four well cooked sausages containing herbs. They were tasty and I almost managed to finish all four. The mash and gravy was just what I needed to warm me up.

The waitress serving us was polite and efficient and the place had a happy atmosphere.

By the time we had finished eating three other tables were occupied.

We were too full for dessert and the bill, which included a pint of cider and an orange juice, came to £29.10.

By Jill Crooks

The Whole Hog

Market Cross, Malmesbury, (01666) 825845

  • Children welcome
  • Specials
  • Vegetarian options
  • Nearby on-street parking
  • Food served 11am-2.30pm and 6pm- 9pm Monday to Saturday and noon to 2.30pm Sundays