MacKenzies prides itself on its cocktails and it also seems to have got the mix right when it comes to keeping its customers happy.

Although it's been a popular spot for more than 10 years, it's not resting on its laurels.

The cafe bar in Wood Street, Swindon, has recently had a revamp and has changed the way it operates too. Instead of having bar snacks and drinks on the ground floor and restaurant on the first, the menus have been amalgamated, the upstairs bar refitted and the ground floor opened out.

By day, the sound on the plasma TVs is turned off downstairs and on upstairs. Then, on weekend DJ nights, there's a turnaround with the music being quieter upstairs to give more of a lounge feel.

The new menu - which now includes children's options - is served on both floors.

There's a good mix of brunch items, light bites, platters to share, salads, burgers, wraps and breads and main dishes.

But MacKenzies isn't all about the food . . . which is probably just as well if a recent visit is anything to base it on.

To be fair to the bar, which has a great atmosphere and is looking classy after its revamp, the friend I was dining with was a chef who has exacting standards.

It didn't help that his smoked salmon and scrambled egg on toasted ciabatta (£6.95 with tea or coffee) came untoasted.

And we were amazed that when we asked for black pepper we were told the only pepper available was in the shakers on the table.

I remember smiling to myself once when I heard of a relative's outrage that a restaurant didn't possess a pepper grinder. But she was dining in a Nissen hut in the Outer Hebrides, not a trendy bar in the middle of town.

However, I did think my pal's insistence that they also should have sea salt flakes might have been OTT.

And despite him (rightly) pointing out that the Hollandaise sauce on my salmon and basil fishcake (£4.95 starter or £7.95 main) was almost definitely bought in and the fish a bit sparse, and that the tuna on a salad nicoise (£4.95 starter, £7.95 main) was over-cooked, I enjoyed them both.

A quick ask around the office - the bar is popular with workers at lunchtime and early evening, and clubbers later on - revealed that most people were happy with the food they had eaten there.

The Mediterranean seared tuna only rated an "it was OK" but there was a big thumbs up for the fajitas (£10.95) and the crispy aromatic duck wrap (£6.25) was "great . . . I just wish there'd have been more of it''.

I've got a similar back-handed compliment on the house wine deal of buy two large glasses and get the third free (£4.25) a glass.

A great all day deal - but I wish the house wine was better quality.

But that won't put me off visiting. It's a friendly, attractive place with a lovely garden and has the added bonus of being just around the corner from the Adver offices. I can always take my own pepper grinder!

Mackenzies Cafe Bar

16 Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon SN1 4AB

01793 430111

www.mackenzies.co.uk

Open: 9.30am until: 11pm Monday and Tuesday; midnight Wednesday and Thursday; 1am Friday and Saturday; midnight Sunday.

Food served: 9.30am to 10pm every day