Marshall’s Yard is a recently renovated former industrial site that has been sympathetically and successfully transformed into a shopping complex.

Not only does it boast such high street names as M&S, Next, Wilkinson, Costa Coffee and shoe giants Brantano, to name but a few, it also houses Italian restaurant Prezzo.

I visited with colleagues on a sunny week day and couldn’t quite believe, as somebody visiting the town for the first time, that such a contemporary, high style eaterie could be found in a place so small – yet perfectly formed.

The gateway to Gainsborough is over the Trent bridge that takes you from Bassetlaw in Notts into West Lindsey in Lincs. It is a historical market town much like Worksop, and yet very different.

The market is still bustling and active and the new complex offers more than the recently extended Priory Centre, with the added attraction of a water feature.

This is situated opposite the restaurant, and if the weather is good, children can be seen running in and out of the water fountains, hysterically having a whale of a time...and for free.

All this fun and frolics can be viewed from within this modern, slate and wooden eaterie that offers a vast selection of old favourites like risotto and calzone to a more selective spaghetti con mazzancolle (crayfish tails, petits pois and garlic in saffron cream sauce).

We selected Bianca pizza, cooked in the visible specialist wood burner oven, salmon in a cream sauce with vegetables and my preferred choice was the linguini with spicy sausage, roasted peppers and mushrooms in a tomato sauce.

But to get the stomach under starters orders we went for mozzarella in carrazza (cheese deep fried in breadcrumbs served in pomodoro sauce), gamberoni (roasted king prawns, garlic and ciabatta bread) and a portion of bruschetta.

All arrived speedily and with efficiency from the waitress who was pleasant yet professional.

The portions with pasta are normally a little on the large side and this was no exception.

But it didn’t leave us much room for a dessert and we had to pass up the chance to try the puds on offer.

Prices are reasonable when it comes to starters and mains but, as with many restaurants, the final cost is an exaggerated amount formulated from the over-priced side orders, sweets and coffees.

If I was judging Prezzo on style, ambience and situation it would get five stars but the food didn’t quite match up to the marketing.

It is still well worth a visit for anyone fancying a trip over the border to a little town which can offer so much.

by Jackie Laver

Star rating HHHH