AS A newcomer to the infamous Gifford's Circus, it was tempting to assume the restaurant must be somewhat over-hyped.

The first thing to say is that the vintage carnival atmosphere immediately hits you as you're invited in by aptly themed ushers.

As one would expect there are no shortage of glamorous performers and eccentric figures, both on stage and in the crowd.

We were invited into the dining area following a daring and elaborate show that left me with a euphoric buzz.

What immediately hits you is the vibrant imagery that surrounds the tent which left me spending some time scouting the area before taking my seat.

Our table at Giffords Circus where we were seated

For the starter we were served a generous portion of braised beef brisket on toast with celeriac and cream.

Although I may be slightly biased as an avid meat eater, there was an alluring aromatic background to the beef that worked beautifully with the creamy celeriac and the crunch of the pickles.

This left me excited for more after a few too many glasses of red wine that was slightly more pricey than I am accustomed to.

Following our starter we were brought spiced monkfish accompanied by dhal samphire.

I am no fan of spice, but the flavouring was subtle which worked brilliantly with the meaty and rich monkfish.

In combination with the smoky Dhal and the sharp crunch of samphire and citrus, I can safely say this was my favourite of the three courses.

After wolfing down the previous two courses, we were served Bavarian cream with poached apples, pears and biscotti for desert.

Although Bavarian cream is a much abused substance in the world of deserts, the cream accompanied the fruits perfectly.

All I can say is I have been won over by Gifford's Circus and the desert topped off what was an exceptional circus experience.

The entire front of house team were friendly and extremely efficient, I would recommend the magical Gifford's Circus to anyone.

Jaye McGowan