The demise of the traditional local pub has led to some dramatic transformations for these landmark buildings.

The Star pub was a feature of Manchester Road at Slaithwaite for donkey’s years but now it’s gone upmarket into a bar and restaurant.

I have to admit I’d never set foot inside the Star but I doubt very much the regulars from those days would recognise the new place inside.

First off there’s a great feeling of space with its open plan design. The restaurant is set to the right of the bar complete with wooden tables and comfy, fully padded seats – always a bonus – while the left has brown tub chairs and even more comfy seats where you can sip your wine and cocktails. And even beer if you want to keep the Star tradition going.

It’s so open plan you can see right into the kitchen – and that looks large too. The lighting’s spot on – not too bright, not too dark – and the walls are the kind of neutral yet not weak colours that Mrs Hirst craves for our living room. Having seen these, it looks like I’ll be getting my step ladders and paint brushes out come the early part of 2015.

Thanks, Noble’s. Thanks very much.

It’s clearly been a major and not inexpensive development so can the food match the style and ambience they’ve created with the building?

Starters include soup of the day (£4.50) which happened to be pea – probably a bit too green for me – ham hock bon bon with pork crackling and parsnip puree (£6.95), grilled goats cheese salad (£6.75), chicken liver creme brulee with Noble’s chutney and melba toast (£5.95) and home-cured treacle salmon with crystalised ginger syrup (£6.95).

We went for the chicken liver and salmon. Presentation, while not everything, is important and that’s clearly a vital part of the Noble’s experience. It was all very well presented.

It’s a large pot of chicken liver pate, the melba toast is thin, crispy and curved and the chutney is packed with onions and has a spicy kick to it. This was a great combination.

The salmon was cut and rolled, combining sweetness with the natural texture of the fish. If there was any criticism there wasn’t enough toast with the fish or the chicken liver.

Mains veer from the comfort food of fish and chips (£10.95), gammon steak with egg and pineapple (£12.95) to steaks (£16.95 for sirloin and £22.95 for fillet) and a trio of sausage with creamy mash potato and rich gravy (£10.50).

If you’re looking for something a tad different then what about the salmon and crayfish tagliatelle with chilli garlic and coriander (£10.95) or lemon chicken with red grapefruit, watercress salad and a citrus dressing (£9.50).

For our vegetarian chums there’s mediterranean vegetable lasagne with dressed tossed salad (£9.50).

I went for homemade pie of the day served with hand cut chips and veg (£10.95).

“Hardly adventurous” I hear you cry.

Well, you’d be wrong there. This was the chef’s special game pie (£10.95) – and it’s a biggie. So huge, in fact, it struggled to keep itself together and was packed with pheasant, venison and pigeon. You have to be game to go for this. It sure is a meaty one.

When it landed I thought Desperate Dan must have walked in and they’d accidentally given me his meal. Yes, it’s cow-pie sized. The veg was mange-toute, broccoli and carrots – all perfectly cooked.

Game pie at Noble's Bar and Restaurant in Slaithwaite

The pie beat me. As a kid I used to hide what I was leaving beneath the knife and fork. You’d need a pick and shovel to do that with this pie.

Ruth went for the gourmet beef burger with cheddar cheese, chunky chips and a dressed salad (£10.95). What we like to think of as a proper burger – almost as thick as it was wide and showed up the high street burger bars for what they are. It’s a real appetite-slayer.

As for puddings, well due to the amount already gorged the homemade sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce and ginger ice-cream was out of the question. There is orange and cranberry cheesecake or vanilla panacotta with lightly pickled rhubarb compote but we’re no rhubard fans. I wouldn’t worry if I never saw a stick of the stuff again.

We shared white chocolate and malteser brownie with mixed berry coulis. It came like that as a square with no offer of ice-cream or cream which it really needed to soften it’s dryness and didn’t have a malteser crunch effect. All puddings are £5.50.

Service was fine with any sauces or extra gravy promptly delivered along with tap water when requested.

All in all, a good meal in a wonderfully renovated building and well worth a try.

The bill

Noble’s Bar and Restaurant

1438-1440 Manchester Road, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, HD7 5JX

Phone: 01484 841257

Website: www.noblesbarandrestaurant.co.uk

Opening times: Monday-Thursday bar open 12noon to 11pm and food served until 9pm; Friday and Saturday bar open from 12noon until midnight and food served until 9.30pm: Sunday, bar open from 12noon to 11pm and food served until 6pm.

Children: Yes, with a special child’s menu priced at £6.95 to include dessert and a drink.

Disabled: Good access and plenty of room inside, but no disabled toilet.

Would you go back: Yes

The bill: £52.70