Some of the quirkiest places make the most fun to eat out. Take The Old Prison on the edge of Northleach.

If you have kids in tow, you’ll have many questions to answer about dungeons and what happened to old prisoners. You’ll also have plenty of space for them to run around on the grass outside and intriguing old carts and farming equipment for them to wonder over and carefully choose their favourite.

There are lots of picnic benches too if you’d like to eat outside.

It’s certainly an unusual spot and a very lovely and accessible one too, with plenty of parking just outside, on the Fosse Way heading towards Cirencester.

I was there to catch up with an old friend and her two little girls (aged four and six). We chose a seat in the light-filled glasshouse area. Surrounded by colourful flowers and plants, tables are now pretty well spaced out, with an eclectic mix of wrought iron chairs, wooden benches and old wooden chairs.

Post Covid, the ordering experience is now completely digital. You scan a QR code on the table, choose your favourite dishes via your phone, select how fast you want your food and pay up. You also type in your contact details for the track and trace system.

There’s a nice range to choose from. We weighed up jacket potatoes and salad with a variety of fillings, toasties, quiche and soup of the day, as well as plenty of brunch dishes. There’s a dedicated children’s menu with choices just for them too.

My friend Ellie and I went for poached eggs and bacon on sourdough with an additional extra of smashed avocado (£10) on the side. It arrived promptly on a square disposable bamboo plate, with thickly buttered sourdough, two chunky slices of salty bacon, two perfectly soft, golden poached eggs and vibrant smashed avocado topped with crunchy pumpkin and sunflower seeds as well as a scattering of cress.

The girls were both pleased as punch with their single fried egg on a thick slice of quality toast and delighted in how runny the eggs were with bright smiles on their little faces.

The coffees here are excellent. Now served in disposable cardboard cups, my almond milk cappuccino (£3.30) was dusted in plenty of chocolate and tasted indulgently rich and creamy. Perfect fuel for running around after two little ones afterwards!

While we weighed up dessert options, I took in the buzzy, bustling crowd around us. It seems everyone visits, from friends catching up for a gossip in the corner, families enjoying coffee and cake and lots of young families with children cartwheeling across the grass.

And it’s understandable why - the airy, intriguing space has such a lovely appeal.

Ice creams which packed a punch with plenty of sweet strawberry and mint choc chip flavour, were the pud of choice for the girls, while I went for a (huge) slice of chocolate sponge cake (£3.50). The portion size was extremely generous and pleasingly wasn’t too sweet. Admittedly the sponge was a touch on the dry side, but washed down with my excellent coffee, it was a perfectly pleasant way to round off the meal.

We all left feeling pleased to have enjoyed such tasty food, in lovely surroundings and without breaking the bank. A really charming treat!

For more information visit www.theoldprison.co.uk