Situated on the distinctly upmarket thoroughfare that runs between Bath’s most illustrious addresses (the Royal Crescent and the restaurant’s namesake), one might expect The Circus to be equally exclusive. At first glance, however, the experience is quite the opposite: a bright and breezy all-day cafe (albeit a rather classy version of the genre) that morphs into a chic but cosy supper room as the sun sets. Stopping for elevenses (is The Circus wholly responsible for putting this Great British Idiom back into everyday use?) or a tea time treat at a table on the wide pavement to the front of the restaurant when the weather complies is a ‘very Bath’ experience, but you don’t need a grey sky excuse to send you scuttling indoors, where a choice of upper or lower level dining rooms offer a choice of ambience (downstairs being the cosier option in the evening). Food, meanwhile, blends traditional British influences with fashionable flourishes to great effect, and adheres to locally sourced/seasonal sensibilities. All well and good? Well, almost.

Main course prices don’t include necessary side dishes (who wants a steak served with garlic butter alone?) which tends to push the cost up substantially, and although the house wine is good value for money (circa £15), a trip up the wine list could leave you seriously out of pocket. Meanwhile, service can be a little bit offhand, offering the impression that locals and regulars are paid more attention than newbies and visitors. Welcome to the neighbourhood?

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A-Z of Bath Restaurants • Alfresco hotspots • Lazy cafes & restaurants • Romantic restaurants