Stonemasons, Ilminsterback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
The sort of pub that's liked by semi literate cretins from Litchfield. For everyone else, it's just a bog standfard Marstons set up (l.e. utter shite food and similar beer).
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Had the good to fall upon the Stonemasons in Ilminster last night, I have to admit that if i hadent taken the wrong turning, I would never have found this lovelt pub.
My family and I had been traveling down to the South Coast and needed a reast bite, we turned toard Ilminster of the A303 after seing alocalservices signon the roundabout. We found the Stonemasons on the first roundabout as we entered Ilminster. at firs view this was a typical Estate pub, however thats where the familiarity ended. When entering the pub, the bar staff imediatly greeted us with a smile and askedif we would be eating, they took the time to explaine the method ofordering and even asked if we wouldlike to order drinks whilst we decided what we would be eating. The smile and refreshing mannor is a diferance from the majority of pubs these days. We sat down and desided on our meals, I aproched the bar and was aproched almost imediatly by a young man who i noted from the till disdplay, was named Dan. he asked if we wouldlike starters and even whent to the bother of explaining what came with the staretes, such as salad garnish and such like. I ordered our meals and some recomended side orders, Dan explained that we could open a tab and could order deserts after our mains and the waitress would take our desserts order at the table. A realy plesent start to our visit. I took a wonder around the pub whilst we waited for our meals, this was obviously arelativly new pub as it wa in excelent condition and exceptionaly clean. the waitres delivered our cutlery and condements and chated to us,asking if we had travledfar and general chit chat,lovely girl whos name i forger. Just taking the time to chat is a rear thin these days. Our starters arived. Prawn cocktail and breaded mushrooms, nicely presented and served promptly. the waitress asked if we she could do anything else for us and said " enjoy your meals " and realy ment it by the soundof things.
The Manager apeared from the kithcen and the staff didnt seem to notice, i say this as usualy when the boss apears, staff in pubs soon spee upand make it look like they ar doing somthing, not in this case, the staff seemed realy relaxed around this man. I saw the mager aproach severaltables and take the time to chat,i asumed he knew all the customers he aproched as he was frienly and chated about anything and everything, he then aproched our table and chetted to us asif he knew us too. what a suprise, he obviously valued our custom and asked how our jurny. he ended with enjoy your meals and have a safe jurny. I am harping on a bit here but i found the staff and manager so nice and frienly that i wanted everyon to know. The food was great and we even got a fee bottle of wine as we had purchased food over �15. what a deal. We had the attention we liked with the check backs and the managers conversation but didnt feel apressed atall. obveously a great team. Upon leaving the bar staff wished us a goodnight and the manager aproched us and asked us to visit again on our next passing. we definaitly will do so.
Having read some of the above apraisalsof the Stonemasons, I can only comment on our visit but if this was anything to go by, the previos visits must have been prior to the present managers incumbace.
A thouraly plesant visit and we will return again..... Marstons should be proud.
Paul Smith (Lichfield)
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We popped in here for an early evening meal as we were staying locally. Yes it's a large "chain pub." However, it's clean, fairly comfortable and has plenty of seating. There were three decent cask ales (Marstons) and a large menu. Nothing special, just pub grub. Service was a little slow behind the bar - there were only two staff working, supplemented by a third every now and then. Two 8oz steaks with all the trimmings, �10.00. Bargain. They were cooked properly and as we ordered. They also arrived at our table within 15 minutes of being ordered.
If its fine dining you want this isn't for you. But if its good grub at a good price, with a decent pint, this is it.
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The service and food here were appalling. It is all precooked and frozen, so you know not to expect a gourmet meal. HOWEVER.....After having chosen a vegetarian meal for one of our party we were told, only after we'd finished our starters, that it was not available - the subsequent two choices weren't available either. When the fourth choice arrived it was frozen solid in the centre. This was then taken away and no other food was offered, so only 5 out of our party of six actually ate that night.
We were informed by an off duty manager that the menu was changing the following Tuesday and that, as a result, many things that were shown on the menu were no longer available. Apparently the staff were supposed to be telling customers this - but they weren't.
We were offered a number of incentives to stay/return - including money off any subsequent visit, free desserts etc. However, our evening having been entirely ruined (it was supposed to be a treat!), we left after eating our main courses and having been given a full refund as all the food was both luke warm and of very poor quality.
Nobody in our party is ever likely to visit one of these establishments again since there is no substitute for freshly cooked produce as prepared by a properly qualified chef.
On the evening we were there we were surrounded by dissatisfied customers who were all fed up with waiting only to be served less than mediocre fare.
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I found this just a bit too predictable, About as much atmosphere and charm as the new housing estate it was built to serve.
Bland Marstons beer and brake Bros.style food. OK if your are desperate I suppose.
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Popped in here for a swift pint on carnival night for 2nd year in a row(wasnt built this time 3 years ago!) Very nice well kept pint of cumberland ale was quaffed, friendly and very nice looking pub, 8/10
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Pleasant enough large new (2 years?) estate pub (Marston's). Tidy and clean with a friendly welcome - didn't eat but menu looked average for the chain. Had a pint of Cumberland Ale which was spot-on.
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