please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Visited yesterday. Butcombe bitter was well kept. three other local brews and two ciders available. Others in the party all equally complementary. The food was superb too. Busy but convivial atmosphere for a saturday lunchtime.
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Really shocked to see Bobo's earlier comment about this establishment.I have regularly eaten here and find it a great experience every time.
A great menu, and the pies that are mentioned are a bargain for the price, i'm a 6ft 3in ex rugby player, with the appetite to match and i can't finish it.
I've also been there when residents have taken pies away on their travels, so they can't be that bad!
Having read Bobo's comments makes me wonder if he has ever eaten here, or just enjoys moaning about what is clearly a busy pub.
Always seems to be plenty of regulars at the bar, enjoying the huge selection of ales and lagers, a great place where i look forward to visit with my family or just for a pint when i'm allowed out.
Keep it going is all i can say about the Crown and Vic !
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Busy here on a sunny summer's afternoon, when it is a pleasure to sit out and enjoy the beer garden. Good range of ales (5) on offer. Enjoyed a couple of pints of Cotleigh's Owlympian. Food is very good, locally sourced, and not too expensive for the quality. Our group enjoyed the ribs.
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My wife and I got seduced by one of those brown and white tourist signs whilst passing on the 303. Very pleasant surprise. Four local real ales on offer, and the lunch menu offered good value. Would definitely return if in the area again.
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Been here a couple of times now and always had a nice meal. It's not cheap, but it is good. Well worth a visit. Definitely a foodie pub rather than a local
in my opinion.
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Visited the Crown last night for my four year olds birthday meal.
What a great evening! the food was fantastic , lovely atmosphere and the staff were so welcoming. We were eating early due to the childrens ages and there were already other diners in. 6 adult guests chose a mixed selection from the winter warmer menu and ala carte menu , all commented on how good the food was and what a great evening.
Thanks to Mark,Glo and Lou front of house and Steve in the kitchen for a great evening.
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Been to this pub many times never disapointed! It is what every village needs - a place to eat[excellent food] - good selection of beers,wines, lagers if you just fancy a drink - lovely safe environment for the children in the garden.The owners must be doing something right as it is always busy. Please do not change anything.
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Another disappointing evening at the Crown & Vic with overpriced small portions - the only reason I return is for the ales, decent and well kept,but this is certainly not the friendly village pub it once was.
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The last time I had been here (oh, eight or nine years ago) I hadn't been impressed. Now it is an excellent place, both for food and drink. I wouldn't have recognised it from the so-so place it had been.
The wife and I have been wondering when we might try to come back here for dinner some time (even though it is a fairly long drive from home). Highly recommended, 9/10
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Great place for a meal - the pies are sensational. Have taken a number of visitors there for lunch, and its always been a success. Both beer and wine drinkers have found stuff they like. Actual bar area small, but plenty of tables inside and out.
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Pleasant country pub in an attractive village. Friendly staff, decent gardens and a large conservatory. Lacks a little atmosphere though.
Good choice of beers with six or seven on tap including three from Butcombe, plus Cheddar Ales Potholer. Also Ashton Press and Gaymers Pear ciders.
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I was here recently for lunch with my parents. The pub is certainly in a good location/pretty village and is pleasant enough itself although the actual bar itself does seem a liitle plastic though. In general, it does seem very much geared up to food (and the food we had was perfectly reasonable) but was perhaps at the expense of those wanting to go just for a drink although there were several ales on at the time - one/two from Cheddar, a couple from Butcombe and a porter I didn't recognise. Whilst the Potholer (Cheddar) I had was reasonable enough, it wasn't brilliant. I just wonder if there is enough turn over to keep up the quality. That said, would be happy to go back to check. An all round 'solid enough effort' but just nothing to really mark it out as individual.
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Had my 40th birthday in the Crown and Victoria on Saturday night,myself and 5 friends- what a night!
I was spoilt for choice all night, from the extensive choice of local ales, my wife with her friends sampled several wines- all thoroughly enjoyed!
The food was exceptional,I only managed a starter and main course, I was to full to manage a pudding, but did manage to wrestle a spoonfull of my wifes away-mmm .
My only advice is that you have to try this place- its fantastic!
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Had dinner here recently with my Wife and two friends.
We had checked out the menu that morning only to find on arrival that several choices were not available.
We found the food poor value for money with no vegetable or potatoe side dishes offered for a �16 main duck course, savoy cabbage that was listed was merely a mouthful.
We commented twice on a frozen pudding that was subsequently left but had no offer of a refund.
At no time did the waitress enquire if the meal was staisfactory and the host never left the comfort of the bar to make us feel wanted or welcome.
In this day and age I find this unacceptable.
Whole experience was dissapointing & underwhelming, we will not be returning.
Good fire was about the best we could say.
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It used to be a superb village pub that always had an excellent reputation for its ales and food, however it's now another wannabe gastro pub and has simply crammed as many tables as possible in to increase the number of dining covers without leaving much space for drinkers. The welcome left a lot to be desired - a surly "Have you booked?". The menu is above average albeit wordy and pretentious and, I would suggest, overpriced and portions we observed were not over-generous. Something like �14.95 for what is, after all, pie and chips despite the flowery description seems expensive to me. Having said that, I certainly couldn't fault the beers - local brews like Yeovil Ales' Ruby (an excellent red bitter) and Cheddar Ales' Potholer as well as 6X, Butcombe Blonde and Butcombe Bitter - if only there was somewhere comfortable to enjoy it without feeling awkward because you aren't dining.
BobOs - 18 Oct 2008 15:49 |
Congratulations to all at the Crown and Victoria Inn for their recent award of AA Rosettes.
Not that I'm surprised as the food,staff and location are fantastic!!!
We visited this weekend(Again) and the Sunday lunches our party enjoyed were plentiful and of the highest quality.I also sampled 3 of the different guest Ales(all in tip top condition) -what a great day.
The Owners Mark and Isobel also showed us the high quality rooms that are available for rent, and we've all agreed that next time we come to the Crown and Victoria we will be staying as residents to let us fully sample the ales and extensive wine list- Im already licking my lips at the thought of our next visit!!
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after all these good reviews in BITE, I visited for 1st time.
very clean hotel type place, recently freshly kitted out wi nice new carpets throughout, bright modern furniture, open plan hotel-lobby feel.
so not much like a pub then...
good selection of SW micro ales from Otter, Butcombe, Cotleigh....average condition..
dreadfully loud intrusive piped-mushik
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Wow !!!!
What a relief after 2 years of avoiding the Crown and victoria we returned to find new owners. there is a god!!
excellent staff! great selection of beers you have to try the potholer (out of this world)
fantastic food if you love fish then this is the place to go! amazing home made pies if you can finish them!!! i would recommend this great pub to anyone make sure you book in advance
cant wait to go back again
anonymous - 20 Jul 2007 20:53 |
Great pub, fabulous accommodation, food and people!
anonymous - 21 Jun 2007 22:37 |
With parents in the vbillage I have known this pub for 20 years and until a couple of years ago I used to make it a monthly visit for a solitary pint, with wife/ girlfriend (never together !!) or to bring the old dears out.
But it all changed a couple of years ago with the new owner - he was a complete GIT - hated kids and noise and general merriment. I stopped going as did many others. The other pub in the village started doing well as a result.
But I am back - HURRAH !! Mike is now the owner and whilst this is a new business for him he has hawled this business back to where it should rightly be. A very personable host and very pleasant staff. Food good as well. I now don't need an excuse to see the oldies but always a pint in the C&V afterwards. God help The Lamb !!
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My boyfriend and I stayed at the Crown & Victoria Inn last weekend as we were down for a wedding. When we arrived on the Saturday we ate in the spacious garden as it was a lovely day and thoroughly enjoyed ham and cheese ploughmans, generously poured Pimms, followed by a gorgeous butterscotch tart with amaretto ice cream (which my boyfriend ordered, but I annoyingly tucked into and ate most of!).
The rooms were spotlessly clean and modern (they looked brand new!), but still had a lovely 'country cottage' feel and the landlord and all the staff were extremely friendly and could't do enough for us....what a refreshing change from central London service!
It was a lovely stay and I would definately return - I thought that �85 for bed and breakfast (did I mention the lovely breakfast with equally great service?) in such gorgeous surroundings was great value. I have never bothered to write reviews online before, but though this one definately deserved to be the first!
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my wife and myself visited the Crown again this weekend.
What an atmosphere,smiles all round, sat out in the sunshine enjoying great company.I had the red mullet on fresh snap peas and noodles, all washed down with one of the 6 choices of cask ales- my mouth is still watering at the thought of it!!
My wife had the john dory , yet again a totally amazing dish- a real credit to the hard working kitchen team.
This place keeps on getting better and better,
Youv'e got to give it a try!!!!!!!
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After sadly avoiding this pub like the plague for the last 2 years due to the ineptness of the 2 previous owners, I am pleased to say we are using it again!
What a difference it makes having owners who care about the punters and not just the pennies, oh and the foods pretty damn good too, as for the booze if they havent got it its probably not worth having.
I have just booked the marquee and catering for my daughters 21st birthday in August, trust me she's not easy to please!
Unfortunately I don't have anything negative to say at the minute, a bit boring I know, but you have to give credit where it's due.
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This pub has recently changed hands and what a result!
Fantastic food, all sourced locally, the homemade pies have to be tried to be believed. The local fresh seafood is a treat, the finest i have experienced in this country!!
A wide selection of cask ales, chilled lagers and an extensive wine list make this a must visit venue.
The beer garden is fantastic, certainly the place to relax this summer,with plenty of room for the kids to enjoy themselves.
In fact it's that good I'm heading there now!!
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Wow what a makeover!! Under new management now and totally turned round. Excellent food sourced as locally as possible including fresh fish, good beers fantastic range of wines a CHEERFUL Landlord and Landlady and friendly staff���just a nice place to go�.to eat or just a drink. Recommended Alan.
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Another country pub ruined by being given a ghastly corporate makeover. Lots of plastic looking oak
Only two real ales - Wadworth and Butcombe.
Its only saving grace was a roaring log fire about 100 yards away!
Jules44
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