BEING a Marlow girl, I’ve remembered many trips to the old Britannia pub over the years, but they weren’t always thought of with fondness. There were the sticky floors, copious amounts of (too much) space which struggled to be filled, and as much as various owners tried to make it look its best, it was always a little on the scruffy side.

It was the perfect venue to see the likes of a sweaty rock band, but you would never take your mum there for a quiet drink.

But now the Britannia has been transformed and it’s unrecognisable - re-launched with a nautical décor to include outdoor decking with heated lamps, a fun, lively interior with buoys, Union Jacks and wooden tables, and a family fun-factor which is apparent as soon as you walk through the door.

It is obvious the interior designers just looked at the huge building, in Little Marlow Road, and started again - gutting the insides and working from scratch - and it had needed that for a long time. I did, in fact, take my mum there for a quiet drink and bite to eat and she was ‘buoyed’ by the menu which offers a host of family favourites including burgers, mixed grills and spit roasted chicken.

We settled on prawns to start. Mum chose her favourite of prawn cocktail, with thick bloomer bread and butter (£3.95) and I went for the butterfly king prawns with Habanero chilli sauce (£2.95).

We loved the fact that you could order three sizes of some of the menu options. I chose a small starter as I didn’t want to spoil my main. A very sensible idea if you are eating as a group and intend on three courses.

Mum loved the plump, juicy prawns and said the bread was the perfect companion. No cheap white bread here, but a granary, which was a seedy and quality option.

My king prawns had been chargrilled - they were crunchy and crispy, and served on a hot skillet. The chilli sauce was pretty potent stuff! I enjoyed the prawns so much that I even munched on the tails. It was just the right amount for me to make sure I had room for the main.

My dining companion and I were struck by the rump steak (£7.95), and I know we should have chosen different options to try, but we both had a craving that needed to be satisfied.

However, mum, being a chip lover, chose a side portion of those with a salad, while I was trying to be healthy and went for a large side of the green stuff.

The steak was incredible: the knife just went straight through it, and had that perfect chargrilled taste that you can never replicate at home. My only slight disappointment was that the edges were a little fatty and gristly, but I guess that is part of the territory of choosing a meaty main. Once they were sliced off it was perfect.

I had spotted a fellow diner with an eye-catching knickerbocker glory on the way in, and vowed to give it a go, but the sheer amount of steak rendered me useless and I had to admit defeat.

Mum washed her meal down with Sauvignon Blanc - which must have been good as she ordered large glasses and became a little giggly.

This bar/restaurant is just what the town needs - a family vibe where it is easy to park and is good value, with friendly staff and an upbeat atmosphere.

The Britannia has set sail - and she is into calmer waters with the McMullen chain. Long may it continue.

The Britannia can be contacted on 01628 485066.