UNTIL the mid-1970s, travellers making their way along the A40 from Witney to Eynsham would have passed the hamlet of Barnard Gate and the Britannia pub on the left.

Then the new road was built to straighten the curve in the old road and bypass this little hamlet of just 20 houses and a pub, and the Britannia lost a great deal of passing trade.

However, when George Dailey took over the Britannia in 1991 and completely renovated this old pub, adding an extension that fitted seamlessly into the existing building, things began to look up again.

He changed the name to The Boot Inn - then set about endorsing this name change by offering celebrities a bottle of champagne in exchange for one of their boots. It wasn't long before footwear from famous sportsmen, such as Sir Roger Bannister, George Best, Ian Botham, and Stanley Mathews, were framed and hung alongside shoes belonging to politicians, pop stars, actors, and others. Visitors can happily idle away an hour or so admiring and inspecting this amazing collection that hangs on every wall.

Soon word got around and The Boot became a mecca for lovers of fine food, who sought out establishments that also offered a friendly buzzy atmosphere in a stylish old inn.

The decor was best described then as rustic - it remains that way today. Tiled floors, old beams, and gigantic fireplaces, with roaring log fires, continue to make this a favourite with those who seek a meal experience, rather than just a meal.

You find the entrance to Barnard Gate marked midway along the A40 between Eynsham and Witney, but take care when turning, as cars rattle along this road at a great pace these days.

I took my friend Liz there for Sunday lunch. We didn't take the dog this time, as they are not allowed in. This was a shame, as there's a splendid footpath alongside The Boot Inn, leading to Castles Copse and Cuckoo Lane, which means that there are some great walks in this area.

Because it was a Sunday, I went for the traditional Sunday roast, which was lamb, served with roast potatoes and a dish of roasted vegetables, pictured, at £10.95, starting my meal with a bowl of a very tasty, home-made tomato soup, at £4.50. My first course was spoiled slightly by the slices of stale bread served with it. Yes, I did mention this to the waitress, she sighed and said she would tell the chef, but never reported back to me. I presume I was immediately considered a fussy customer, but as it did spoil the soup, I felt it well worth mentioning, particularly as I remember the delicious warm crusty granary bread I'd been served when ordering soup at The Boot a couple of years ago.

Liz chose the crispy crab salad, served with a citrus dressing (£6.50), to start, and declared it delicious. It certainly looked very attractive. She followed this with the three roasted vegetable parcels, stuffed with mozzarella goats cheese and ricotta, at £10.95, which looked scrumptious, and apparently tasted as good as they looked.

We washed our meal down with Youngs Bitter, the only real ale on tap the day we called.

Other main dishes on the Sunday lunch menu included: twice roasted shank of lamb, served with chive mash and port jus (£12.95), chicken fricassee with verjus, served on a bed of sweet potato and garlic mash (£11.95), and chargrilled dorade fillets on a bed of chargrilled vegetables and parmesan, at £13.95.

The Boot Inn also lists a fish display from which you can choose and then have cooked as you like it by the chef Fabrice Lemonnier, who serves it with the garnish of the day. There is no price against this item, as fresh fish prices fluctuate according to the catch.

After finishing our meal with an excellent cup of espresso, we made our way back to the A40, and home.