WITH a host of authentic tapas and mezze dishes now on the menu at Bar NINE in Stroud and weekly salsa dancing nights to match, SNJ reporter Nick Wakefield and his fiancée Stacy Heaven visited the venue to sample the goods.

SUN-DRENCHED Latin American rhythms beckoned us in from the rain as we arrived at the popular John Street bar and bistro on an overcast Tuesday evening.

A dozen or more beaming salsa dancers twisting and twirling about the bar only heightened the party atmosphere as we were led to our candle-lit table to begin our feast.

With an extensive selection of mini delights to dabble in, each one prepared from scratch by Cypriot chef Joe Caig, the menu is sure to satisfy just about any taste for £3.95 per dish or £10 for three. A full-bodied glass of Tempranillo red wine proved the perfect accompaniment to our first round of dishes, which included generous bowls of fresh tzatziki and olive-topped houmous with strips of pitta bread.

These were served with a beautifully seasoned traditional Greek salata, comprised of tomatoes, red onion, olives, cucumber and feta, alongside a hearty heap of dolmades – moist stuffed vine leaves with rice, pine nuts and fresh herbs.

Other vegetarian options among the 22 dishes on offer include patatas bravas - fried potato cubes in spicy salsa sauce.

The menu signals the start of an exciting venture for Bar NINE owner Mark Winchcombe, who first took over the period town centre building five years ago.

"We are very excited to put NINE on the map as the only tapas and mezze restaurant in Stroud," he said.

"I knew we needed something different to every other place in town and now I know we offer a completely new and unique experience."

While we gleefully tucked in, the salsa dancers reached full Latino swing - led by a troupe of loose-limbed tutors from Gloucestershire-based Salsa Flex, which has been staging weekly dance sessions at the bar since the start of summer.

Customers looking to shake off their dinners or work up a pre-meal appetite can join in with the group lesson for £5 every Tuesday night from 7.45pm.

Our next round of dishes was a real meat-eaters’ delight, consisting of lightly-fried whitebait, tender Moroccan chicken and skewered pork souvlaki.

A melt-in–the-mouth pot of stifado - Greek beef stew - and a richly tasty portion of chorizo con Rioja – Spanish sausage slices slowly simmered in wine – was more than enough to satisfy our tastebuds for one night.

Having said that, we could not resist finishing with chef Joe’s mouthwatering baklavas me kafe, which is a shot of fine espresso coffee and mini pistachio, honey and filo pastry treats that explode with flavour in your mouth.

"I have consulted family members who have tasted my dishes to ensure our range of mezze, the Greek version of tapas, are totally authentic," said Joe, who has been head chef at Bar NINE for two years.

"We wanted to give diners the whole experience rather than just a meal."

Customers who pick up a voucher at the bar can take advantage of a buy one get one half price deal on dishes every lunch time and evening up to 8pm on Tuesday – Friday until the end of August.

Visit Bar NINE at 9 John Street, Stroud, GL5 2HA or visit www.ninestroud.com or call 01453 755 447 for more information.