THIS venue has just been refurbished. So what has changed? The servery and furniture have been upgraded and the walls are now panelled.

As it is some time since we visited we don't know if the menu is new.

Saturday late lunch and the queue was minimal. We had been attracted by the specials board outside the store. This was repeated behind the servery and prices were clearly advertised.

Ann ordered the Shopper's Sandwich, selecting pork as an alternative to turkey. My choice was ciabatta with sundried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese.

We were given a numbered flag to place on our table so that the prepared dishes could be delivered to us. Individual pots of tea completed our meal. This snack cost £11.40.

After about ten minutes the food arrived. The Shopper's Sandwich came garnished and with chips. My ciabatta was very hot, with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and cress. There was also a generous helping of coleslaw (which I don't care for) but a quick swap with Ann for her chips left us both well pleased with our choices.

The caf is on two levels separated by shallow steps. Cutlery and serviettes are located at central points. Although no doubt clean, most of the cutlery was badly water stained from the dishwasher.

The menu ranged for minestrone soup and bread (£3.75), haddock with salad and chips (£5.95), to baked salmon with asparagus (£5.95) or roast sirloin (£6.50).

Pasta of the day was priced at £5.50 or two for £10. The day of our visit it was sundried tomato, feta and olives.

We spotted melon or grapefruit (£1.65), croissants priced £1.50 and £1.95 and a selection of sandwiches and other snacks.

While we enjoyed our food, the tables were fairly tightly packed so an intimate conversation was difficult.

In an age when hygiene is important, we wondered about the open access to items of salad on the servery and the sauce boats of assorted dressings on the central gondola adjacent to the cutlery.

Pleasant staff were quick to clear tables and recover any debris on the floor.

The walls were set off by a display of photographs which deserved a closer scrutiny.

Updated: 08:55 Saturday, February 09, 2002