Kings Arms, Littonback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The Litton is an "Award-winning boutique hotel and destination pub" which has presumably been radically refurbished (and renamed) in the last few years. Think reindeer skins on sofas and leather straps holding the seat cushions in place. Food was excellent (altough the service tailed off after the main course) and my Quantock QPA (£4.70) was decent. My "designated driver" BBF Clear Head also wasn't bad either. With most double rooms costing in excess of £170 a night, I doubt we'd ever stay here but the AA 1 Rosette restaurant might entice us back one day.
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Do not drink there regularly and never eat there (though hear good reports) because the beer is so inconsistent.
Recent tastings of Butcombe Bitter have been disgusting, on two seperate occassions. Was that line cleaning fluid I could taste in there?
They really ought to get this right.
Abbott has reportedly been OK.
If they do not sell enough beer to maintain quality, they need to reduce the number of real ales on. This is basic innkeeping. as is pulling plenty of clean water through before putting on a new barrel of real ale.
Pity, still a lovely place.
pheon - 29 Oct 2011 21:31 |
Beer prices have been reduced from the ludicrous �3-50 to �3-00 for ALL beers (according to the chalked wall notice. An astonishing volte face.
Recent viist there werre three ales on Greene King Abbott and IPA (Greene King own the building) and the local Butcombe Bitter.
Butcombe Bitter last night was decidedly "tired" and unpleasant.
I conclude they have too many beers on for the current size of the wet trade.
The pricing policy is odd, Abbott is much stronger than IPA and Butcombe, normally that would be reflected in the price.
Surroundings remain very pleasant for what is a food led pub.
pheon - 22 Apr 2011 15:03 |
April 2011
This pub has just re-opened after several months closed while Greene King tried (once again) to find another tenant . This pub changes tenants regularly. Everyone gets the formula wrong. It is a big place, too far up market and there will not be enough punters. The local food and value for money competion in the shape of the Pony & Trap (1 Michelin Star) and the pub mentioned below is just too good
The interior is even smarter than it used to be, the garden immacculate. The staff clean, smart and obliging. The building, how everyone imagines an up market country pub.
It should be perfect.........
The new chef allegedly from Babbington House the "luvvie" lair near Frome, ought to mean the food is excellent but first reports are decidedly mixed. At the high prices charged it ought to be perfect indeed it has to be.
It may not yet have hit the spot.
The beer (Butcombe at �3-50) 50p more than other places locally and fully 65p more than the LOCAL food place it will have to beat (The Waldegrave Arms at East Harptree) does not bode well, nor does a large glass of coke, (mostly ice), at �3-00.
More observations to come......
pheon - 13 Apr 2011 20:36 |
As others have said, this is in many ways more of a restaurant than a pub. There was someone to greet us at the door and a computer terminal there, presumably to check reservations like you get in some chain restaurants. Apart from a quick hello, I strode on in to the pub as I don�t expect to have to introduce myself to someone on the door when I go in to a pub. The lady at the door then followed me in to the bar to serve me as there was no-one else there. She seemed to be serving behind the bar, greeting people at the door, and taking them through to the restaurant area when their table was ready.
It�s a shame really, as this has always been a great country pub and one of my favourites for years. Since it�s gastropub makeover a couple of years ago, it�s lost some of it�s character and has had a chequered history recently, being closed as often as it was open.
Let�s be fair to the current owners though � the larger than life landlord and his equally large dog were very welcoming, the gastro-pub makeover was before they arrived, and there�s no reason why you couldn�t just pop in for a pint. None of the tables in the bar area are laid up for food which is more than be said for many so called pubs.
The pub itself it�s still a pretty decent venue with a nice garden at the front. Unusually there�s a dart board and a table tennis table out in the garden, and even a piano! It�s one of those pubs that seems to go on for ever, every time you get to one room there�s another one on round the corner. There�s a mixture of seating with chunky wooden tables and a leather sofa or two. The restaurant area has an open kitchen and also had a large projector screen showing the football which seemed a little out of place. In one of the bars maybe, but the restaurant?
On this occasion I think everyone in the pub was eating, although as mentioned previously there�s no reason why you couldn�t just have a beer. The menu itself is definitely more restaurant like, with most of the mains starting at around the �9/�10 mark and going up. That said though you get what you pay for, and Mrs. Blackthorn and I both really enjoyed the meals we had. I�ve had a lot worse for the same price in many pubs, although it would have been nice to have had some veg with my fish pie.
Beers on this occasion were Butcombe, Greene King IPA and Abbott Ale. Ciders were Aspall�s Suffolk and Stowford Press. In summary I would say it�s well worth popping in, even if it has lost some of the character it had a few years ago.
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Had a delightful meal here on Sunday. Really good, delicious food at very reasonable prices. Very attentive server, cannot recommend this pub/restaurant enough. Would definately go back.
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Lunch visit July 09
We were given a very courteous welcome and were shown straight to a table. This recently reopened place is now more restaurant than pub.The food was quite upmarket with prices to match.
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Now re-opened but the initial local paper reviews not very good so may or may not give it a whirl
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This pub according to the banner sign outside,is to RE-OPEN in June this year 2009.
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Would viewers note,that info i have received as of today state that this pub is closed and has been since November 2008..having visited today the pub was indeed closed............
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Would viewers note,that info i have received as of today state that this pub is closed and has been since November 2008..having visited today the pub was indeed closed............
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I have been to this Pub a few times. usually for lunch while working at the local printing factory.
I have to say the 'pigmans platter' is amazing. along with the 'Punters platter' but my favourite is the 'Golden goujon platter'. Make sure you order a side of home made garlic bread... very tasty.
The Pub has a county feel and is very pleasant. Staff are very friendly and Ale is the best around.
A must is to look at the trees as you descend down the path to the entrance... what a view.
must go back soon.
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Go out of your way to The Kings Arms for food and beer, fantastic every time.
Paul Loader - 29 Mar 2006 22:00 |
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