I tried a Sunday roast at one of Nottingham's prettiest bars and it's well worth the money

The cost is £19.95 for two courses but you can splash out on optional extras such as cauliflower cheese.

Some people were panting away as they crossed the finishing line of Nottingham's Robin Hood Marathon. Others were screaming their heads off as white knuckle rides flung them through the sky at Goose Fair.

Me? I'm at one of the city's prettiest venues for their first-ever Sunday lunch service. With a chill in the air, it's definitely the season for big comforting plates of food... although in truth, I could eat a roast in a heatwave.

It's one of my favourite meals, both in terms of food and sociability. Nothing beats the family or a group of friends gathering around the dinner table until the bickering starts over the last roast potato.

Because of my love for a roast, I'm quite a harsh critic when eating out. The beef has to have a pinkness, the Yorkshire pudding has to be crispy and the vegetables, at the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, have to be just right.

Although I've been to The Magic Garden for cocktails (mostly the blue-coloured Finding Nemo), I've never eaten there. Usually, we sit in the hidden garden at the back that's delightful in the summer. Thankfully on this chilly Sunday, we're shown to a table inside the handsome Grade-II listed property in Low Pavement, which once upon a time was Jamie Oliver's Italian restaurant.

With the green walls, trailing greenery and colourful floral decorations, it's as if they've brought the garden inside. The original fireplace is a stunning feature of this former Georgian townhouse. Once the residence of the Gawthern family, it has an interesting history including a visit by the Romantic poet Lord Byron.

Back in the present day, one of the big attractions of the Sunday lunch is the price. At £19.95 for two courses, it's a really good deal as some roasts alone cost that, without factoring in a dessert.

There are no starters so we're straight in with a choice of beef, chicken, pork and plant-based chicken. Around 20 minutes after stepping through the door, we're eyeing up our plates of food.

We've added pigs in blankets for another £1.75 each and a side of cauliflower cheese for £6.95, so yes if you're feeling flush you can bump up the price but equally, if you're watching the pennies, you can still have a decent meal without.

Sucker that I am for pigs in blankets, I'm straight in there, burning my mouth in the process. I never learn. Instead of the mini cocktail sausages usually served these are a more satisfying chipolata size, wrapped in bacon with crispy bits.

Onto the beef - there's three slices, with a pleasing pink tinge. A couple of mouthfuls were a tad chewy but overall it was tender. The juicy slices of chicken breast won approval from my husband. The generously-sized roast potatoes are all you ever want in a roastie, golden and crispy on the outside, and fluffy inside.

The seasonal veg - carrots, kale and parsnip - would win Goldilocks over, while the spiced red cabbage is particularly tasty. There's no complaints about the Yorkshire pudding either or the herby stuffing.

How do I feel about paying extra for cauliflower cheese? Well, it's definitely worth it, with more than enough for the two of us. The cheese has a gorgeous stretchy consistency, a mature taste and a crisp golden topping. Even though there are lashings of gravy on the plate we are served with a jug for extras, so if you're a gravy addict you will be more than happy. Another plus, the plates are served with pots of condiments without you having to ask.

It makes a change to see something different on the dessert menu. I think I'd have ended up in a food coma if I'd gone for the toffee and walnut cheesecake or chocolate fudge brownie, so I went for the lighter-sounding Baileys and coffee Eton Mess.

Delicate crispy pieces of meringue are drizzled with double cream mixed with Baileys. Crunchy coffee beans on top add texture, while the garnish of mint provides a touch of freshness.

Service from the young staff is pleasant and efficient, earning them a good tip. If you're looking for a Sunday roast for a good price in an attractive environment, be sure to check it out.