Gardeners Arms, Cheddarback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Thatchers Traditional cider Didn't try the food. .
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With regards to my previous comments and a mention from TOnto. I speak as I find at the time of writing, not what or can be. I have been coming to my family in Somerset for over 30yrs and lived here for over 5yrs. I have worked as a chef/pub landlord and in the food industry for some 30yrs.The comments on this site are purely opinions of the individual at the time. I to have visited places and found the situation totally different from the comments placed. If people wish to make their mark great but, not to the demise and derision of others, past present or future, let them do it in a proffesional manner that befits the trade. And on their own merit. As for being local I didn,t on previous visits see many locals or read of their comments. It would also be fair to say that the "priors" menu taste was not everyones cup of tea. It was different.! And a welcome change in my opinion from the deep frozen stuff I used to send out from the warehouse, during my days with Scottish/Newcastle. enough said....
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Called in last week and found a remarkable change from my last visit some 9 months ago.
Good beer and clean loos the new managers are trying hard to make the necessary improvements.
Well DONE.
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It's such a shame that the person who made the previous comment obviously isn't local !!! Yes the pub was cold in when the present Landlady took over - mainly because the place had been let go to the point that nothing worked !!!! Should you wish to re-visit this superb establishment you will find a vibrant, warm and welcoming environment where everything works, superb food (booking most definitely advised to avoid disappointment).
The current keepers of this fine establishment have worked wonders and returned this pub to its very best - Highly Recommended !!
T0nt0 - 15 Jan 2011 20:17 |
Paid a lunchtime visit prior to the xmas festivities and, alas Nick and jo no longer there. There no heating on and the present incumbents swanning around in Fleece jackest. The service from the lovely barmaid/waitress was very good the food well presented but, definitely nothing to shout about as was the Ale. My vegetarian dish was just some frozen veg in a whitish sauce. My how a pub can change and for the worser. What a sad day for the Gardeners.
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Back to Cheddar we came with dog in tow and back to the Gardeners Arms for a rest full weekend. I just love this place, its relaxing and I couldnt wait for another game of skittles. The dog was welcomed with a blanket and a bucket of toys which he thought was great.
The food was spot on as it always is. The Salsa Rump was to die for and the African Lamb was melt in your mouth. I cant find a bad word to say about the Gardeners Arms. I wish they were at the bottom of my road!
Thanks to the skittles team who taught us a few moves. We are getting better slowly. Hopefully see you soon
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This is definitely the best pub in Cheddar, we have been visiting the area for approximately 5 years now and we've been made to feel extremely welcome from our first visit. Even though we live 200 miles away we've come to think of the Gardeners as our local! Good choice of food and beer which are both of a very high standard, and the service has been excellent, not to mention the table skittles after a few too many Thatchers Golds....!!!
Would recommend this pub to anyone, it is a real hidden gem.
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Great pub! Friendly atmosphere, good pint and good food. Table skittles after a few pints is an excellent way of settling minor disputes.
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In general agreement with others, probably Cheddar's best pub, food and beer offerings a bit different from the run of the mill, and not too overrun with tourists as it's tucked away round the back.
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Sorry to hear about Blackthorns experience,but must re-iterate the views of others as i travel round a lot of pubs in the area and, by standards the majority have tired interiors/dirty toilets etc and seem to attract a certain clientele.Personally i would much prefer this sort of arrangement and formality. It's reassuring to know that there is somewhere you can go eat/drink and reccomend without fear or favour.Have tried several of the offerings within this pub and taken various visitors and gusets and all have commented very highly and must say have never been let down in any respect.when you consider the service and surroundings of the majority of pubs today,we can certainly be thankful for the Gardners 10/10 for me everytime
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I think it's only fair to include the reply that the pub sent me as a result of my earlier post:
Dear Blackthorn, Thank you for your comments regarding The Gardeners Arms which you placed recently, I have passed on your comments regarding the meals to my kitchen team who will endeavour to reduce the amount of salt in the faggots in future. Having spoken to the staff I believe that you phoned to reserve a table for the evening in the restaurant area however you may not have been aware that there is a bar menu which does include such pub classics as homemade cottage pie, homemade lasagne, whitby scampi and chips, roast chicken, homemade Liver and Onions, Hand carved Ham, egg and chips etc! As far as the bar is concerned you are right it is a table skittle table which we use regularly as we are in the Mendip Table Skittle league and in fact we are playing at The Ring of bells in nailsea on wednesday night.
Once again thank you for your comments and I hope you will return to the Gardeners in the future..
Regards Nick Barrett
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This isn't a bad pub, but I'm not going to get quite as excited about it as many of the other reviewers on here. It may well be the best in Cheddar, I'm not qualfiied to say, but there are certainly better ones in other nearby villages.
The "lounge bar" isn't really a bar at all, it's a restaurant. All the tables were laid up for eating, not only with cutlery buth with table cloths, napkins, wine glasses, etc. You would clearly be unwelcome just having a pint in here. The public bar is fine (although fairly small) with an unusual counter running at a diagonal across one corner. There is also a large plasma on the wall, and a table top skittles game in one corner (at least I think that's what it is, apologies if it's some other game).
The menu was unusual with dishes such as ostrich, rabbit, etc., so perhaps not to everyone's taste. A few more pub classics may have been useful. My wife and I both had hand made faggots from the specials board which were very generous portions as we had two large faggots each, but we both found them too salty. Again, that may just be our taste, we generally use very little or no salt in cooking. The puddings of sherry trifle and lemon meringue pie were both quite dissapointing.
Beers on tap were Butcombe and Doom Bar, along with Thather's Gold and Addlestone's cider.
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Really nice traditional pub with nice friendly atmosphere, good pint and lady behind bar was polite. Food was home made, although if you cannot order from the bar menu, its more fine dinning than oub food. Its a shame its quite a way from the centre as town, as there was only a couple of us there, so very very quiet.
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Stopped of in Cheddar on our way back home and stopped at the Gardeners Arms for yet another fantastic meal.
Since our last visit the owners have jazzed up the restuarant which I must say looks great. ( Loved the colours, very warm feeling ) If your into Game and Exotic meats this is the place to go. With choices like Venison, Pheasant, Rabbit, Wild Boar and Ostrich we were spoiled for choice.
My husbard went for the Wild Boar Pie and I choose the Tornados Rossini. To finish we enjoyed homemade Lemon Cheesecake and Apple, Pear and Blackberry Tart. 10 out of 10 to the Gardeners. In my view this is the only place to eat locally. Will see you in December on our way down to Devon.
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On being taken out to dine at the Gardeners for the second time, I was not dissapointed to find yet again a very warm welcome from the landlord and his wife. A new very varied menu was presented to us which included such culinary delights as ostrich pie,star gazy pie and wild boar.Myself and a friend had the salmon served with a citrus and basil sauce,which was served with jacket potato and salad,another friend had the star gazy pie which included prawns,sardine,mussels,salmon+squid and a few more tasty ingredients,the other friend chose the ostrich pie which was also very tasty and very well presented.All in all the visit was an all round "fulfilling" enjoyable experience.The four empty plates proved that this is a place to be revisited and guaranteed not to be dissapointed,in our case,as soon as next weekend for a family party.
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After trundling around gwent for a few weeks with a friend i have there, i offered her the chance of lunch at the gardners, For someone who really likes their food this would be yet another test.For me no worries at all..Nick and jo in fine form as ever in all respects.My friend was amazed and ate and drank everything,having just paid �50 at the Celic Manor for evening dinner recently in Newport,she really was surprised..Although these two places are poles apart the gardners pulled it of again,the reviews say it all.....
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The Gardners Arms is a very friendly pub, the landlord and landlady are very welcoming as are the staff & regulars. They serve some great real ale and the food is amazing and great value too. We were only in Cheddar for 4 days but returned to The Gardners Arms each day, we were made to feel so welcome. Nik (landlord) taught myself and my partner to play table top skittles and we were soon hooked! (one of the reasons we returned each night). I would recommend this pub to anyone who visits Cheddar, even if you don't drink the food alone is well worth a visit!
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We had a weekend, down in Cheddar, and stumbled across a beautiful country pub. A great selection of real ales and west country ciders. And the food, amazing, one of the best sunday lunches ever. Not heaped on the plate like most pub grub, but local, fresh products and the fact the landlord to tell us where all the food had came from as well. Honestly a true gem of a pub.
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Yet again another fist class meal; compliments to the chef;
the italian evening was for me something very different and most enjoyable.
Well done the gardeners?
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Another Saturday see's i dragging the crowd,well 3 of us to the Gardners again.
Able to go with the full and confident knowledge of a good meal/drink/and service.
Yet again 10/10 and no qualms whatsoever, i personally tried the Salmon in Filo pastry, a dream to look at and, a delight to eat well done once again.
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What a great find. On the back streets of Cheddar is a lovely old fashion pub with brasses and old black and white phtos of Cheddar. Its clean and tidy with more than helpful staff who are willing to answer any question and are more than happy to talk to you even if you are a tourist. Good selection of real ales lots of homemade dishes on the menu. Food fantasic probably the best meal ive eaten in a pub for a very long time. Well done this is denfinately my kind of pub. Will see you next time we pass though Cheddar.
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Some three weeks ,since sampling the Gardners.i return with mother in tow and a close familly friend,who was a native of the area.He was more than pleased.and commented very highly,in all respects.Another 10/10 rating from our table,I,ve never been afraid to reccomend,and i certainly reccomend the Gardners,But do not take my word for it,Go and try it for yourselves,you won,t be dissapointed.and hard pressed to find fault..A litle gem....
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I was given the question is there anywhere good to eat in Cheddar.YES i replied,and we toodle off,arriving early lunchtime at the GARDNER,s.Still we were welcomed,shown in side and furnished with a Menu.A good,yet not overcrowded menu,with something for everyone. Pies were the order of the day.
Ostrich for me,Chicken leek,and cottage for my mother and sister..The whole place looked olde worlde,and very clean.Homemade chips,came with assorted veg and the varied pies,good size portions,At last a pie with filling,well done..
All three received the thumbs up,10/10 i should say easily..3 clean plates tells the story,with my sister filling out the comments card,El Pronto..We shall be back of course,to try out other dishes.Well done the Gardners Arms Cheddar..
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We have eaten in this pub on many occassions and have always found the food to be delicious. The bar staff especially Bob are very friendly.
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We went to to the Gardners Arms for Valentines Night and had a lovely meal, beautifully cooked, and we enjoyed our night there.
Subsequently for Mothers Day treat, my son treated me on the Saturday night. My son had Whitebait then lamb shank, fantastic, my husband had whitebait then chicken, wonderful. I had mussels, brilliant, then I had oven baked whole hake. The hake was raw in the middle. I had to send it back, they had to put it in the oven again, and when it returned, the cream sauce had been scrapped off and there was a twang taste. My son and husband had finished their meal, so I had to eat solo, also no fresh chips, what was left was cold. It was embarrassing as it was supposed to be my treat. The barman offered me a drink, but that was not what was needed at the time, just a meal for the three of us at the same time.
Very disappointed, as our first visit was so good.
TOP TIP: Don't order the fish!
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we have visited this excellant pub quite a few times now and have always recieved a warm and friendly welcome, the beer is great and the thatchers gold is to die for, food is very very good with a good choice and huge portions.
even better, being dog owners is finding a pub where the dogs are made to feel very welcome, even down to being provided with their own doggy menu and a bowl of water.
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I visited this pub on 3 August 2007 after reading about it on this site. It was not too easy to find, but it was well worth the effort! My wife and I had a lovely meal of Wild Boar and freshly cooked vegetables, and an excellently cooked Lamb Shank.
The beer was good and the house wine was decidedly drinkable. The service was excellent, the prices were less than I would have expected to pay, and the pub was very busy but not overcrowded. I just wish that I had a local pub as good as this near me in Suffolk.
I`d recommend booking a table in advance.
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We ate here a couple of weeks ago, having had a look at several of the other pubs in Cheddar, and we're glad we did. The bar staff were very friendly and helpful, the real ales were well-kept and well-served, and both the bar and the garden were clean and tidy. The garden had a small area/playhouse for children which was lovely, without dominating and becoming a 'kids ghetto'.
The meals were excellent, particularly good to see *proper* home-made pies, and such a nice change to see 'real' food for the children's meals too (they were enormous too). The apple and cider tart was to die for. Food was served promptly.
We would go back to Cheddar just to visit this pub again. It was a breath of fresh air.
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An old lady and her dog recommended this pub to us when we were wandering around desperate not to end up in one of the over-priced, generic pubs down nearer the Gorge.
Good beer and even better food - a lot of it is just standard pub fare, but done really well. Well worth the short walk to it and leagues ahead of the competition.
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I went there with my wife for luncn in September. The food and beer were good and, n my opinion, far better than that available in nearby Cheddar Gorge. Worth travelling the short distance if you are visiting the gorge and caves.
willf - 28 Sep 2006 10:50 |
we believe this pub has recently changed hands
food has gone down market and not the standard it was last year when we last visited
but still a preety village pub
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a truly wonderful country pub - great building, amazing food (tuna steak, mussels, deserts to die for...), stunning wine, real fires, and best of all, great service with a smile.
a little expensive, but worth every penny for what you get. go there!
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