From the second we sat down at our table at The Fountain Inn our mouths were watering, as we watched plate after plate of delicious looking food exit the kitchen on its way to a pub full of hungry diners.

We were met with friendly faces and a warm, welcoming atmosphere as we made our way from the bar to our table armed with menus bursting with options. From pub classics including Ham, Egg and Chips and their popular Steak & Jail Ale Pie, to a selection of burgers, basket meals, items from the grill and fish options – there really is something for everyone.

Add to this an extensive ‘specials’ board with more than a dozen extra choices of mains and desserts and you feel spoilt for choice.

As a vegetarian, I appreciated the clear marking of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free items. There was even a note with the Trio of Gloucester Sausage main meal to let them know if you needed gluten-free gravy – something I’m sure those with a gluten intolerance would be grateful for.

We took our time poring over the menu before deciding on Creamy Garlic Mushrooms and Chicken Goujons to get us started. After reaching across the table to try a spoonful of my mushrooms, my husband asked me, “do you think people would know what you mean if you said the dish was ‘mushroomy’?” and I hope you will!

The mushrooms were cut into nice big chunks and had a lovely umami flavour, which is what I think my husband was referring to. They were served in a rich creamy sauce, which I happily soaked up with the thick-cut bread that came with the starter. Creamy and ‘mushroomy’ – this starter did exactly what it said on the tin, and really hit the spot.

Jack enjoyed his crispy chicken goujons, which had a peppery southern-fried flavour and were served with a tangy BBQ sauce and a salad garnish with a sweet honey mustard dressing.

When it came to choosing our main meals, Jack was enticed by the specials board and, after deliberating for a while between the Sweet and Sour Cantonese Chicken and the Beef Chilli, he opted for the latter, which was served with rice and homemade nachos. I chose the Sweet Potato, Chickpea and Spinach Curry – vegan and gluten-free – which came with rice, mini poppadums and sweet mango chutney.

Both of us commented on the lovely warmth of the chilli in our dishes, giving a hint of heat without being overpowering, and Jack particularly enjoyed the large, crunchy homemade nachos that accompanied his dish. My curry had a delicious coconut flavour that came through after the initial taste, adding a real depth to the flavours of the dish.

The portion sizes at The Fountain Inn are very generous, meaning I was defeated by my curry, but I may have had an ulterior motive for leaving some. I can’t help it – whenever I go out for dinner, I always peek at the puddings before I’ve even chosen my starter and main. My sweet tooth ensures I always leave room for dessert, especially when my favourite item is on the menu, as it was on this occasion.

I can’t resist the allure of a warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream, so I was delighted to see it was on offer at The Fountain. With apple crumble, sticky toffee pudding and not one, but two cheesecakes on offer, Jack’s decision was slightly trickier, but he landed on another classic – the sticky toffee pudding.

Silence befell our table as our desserts were presented to us and we tucked into our respective dishes – although Jack’s was too tempting, so I snuck a spoonful of his before he could bat away my hand.

The fudgy chocolate brownie had chunks of chocolate running throughout and the vanilla ice cream worked perfectly to cut through the richness of the pudding. Sticky toffee pudding can often be a heavy dessert, but the sponge was so light and fluffy, and had a lovely hint of ginger, which added a nice spicy warmth.

One thing I kept commenting on throughout the meal was that everything came out of the kitchen steaming hot, meaning we could take our time to enjoy the food without the worry of it quickly going cold.

The service was also brilliant throughout, especially given the pub was full and bustling – a great sight on a Thursday evening. We didn’t have to wait long for each course to arrive, and we were regularly checked on to ensure we were enjoying our food or to ask if we needed another drink.

The kitchen is open from 12pm to 8pm Monday to Thursday – perfect for those of us who prefer to eat slightly earlier mid-week – and 12pm to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays. They also serve food on a Sunday from 12pm to 5pm, with a variety of roast dinner options including vegetarian and children’s options.

Unfortunately, it was a bit of a breezy evening when we visited, but their outside seating area is ideal for relaxing on a warm summer’s evening with a glass of something cold to help wash down the tasty food.

If you’re looking for a warm welcome, delicious comfort food and a cosy atmosphere, get yourself booked in at The Fountain Inn.