Northern Bar: George Street, Aberdeen

MOVING back to your old stomping ground can provide some definite benefits. For a start, you know where to find the best takeaways, shops and, most importantly, pubs.

And so one of the first stops my wife and I made after everything was in place in our new flat was to one of my former haunts – the Northern Bar.

I may be longer in tooth and more generous of girth than in my student days, but this George Street pub is just as I remembered it – friendly and cosy.

Things didn’t get off to the best of starts when my wife was denied her first choice of starter, prawn cocktail, for the fairly vital reason that there were no prawns left.

All was forgiven, however, when our second choice arrived – a huge mound of chilli nachos (£6.99) complete with jalapenos, sour cream and salsa. Piping hot and with a pleasant spicy kick, they were soon demolished.

To follow up, I went for the haggis, neeps and tatties (£6.79). From the delicately-spiced haggis to the creamy mash and fresh-tasting turnip, it was a triumph; if there’s a better pub version of the traditional favourite to be had then I’d certainly love to try it.

My wife was just as chuffed with her NY BBQ burger (£7.49). For a pub burger we’d thought it seemed rather steep, but it was worth every penny – the patty was huge and stacked with bacon and beer-battered onion rings (that actually tasted of beer!) and came with a mountain of fries and even a dip.