The Shakespeare, Victoria

I hate to leave a review with nothing constructive in it whatsoever but this must be the worst pub in the world. Awful, awful food. Fizzy lager was flat. Staff can't speak English. Just dire!

28 Jul 2010 19:59

The Hankridge Arms, Taunton

Stopped here one lunchtime with a couple of colleagues after a meeting in the town. Given its location in a retail park we were pleasantly surprised when we found it wasn't a VIntage Inn/Beefeater etc, etc. The decor is typical faux-gastropub but it was very clean and tidy.

The bar menu (piece of damp paper) consisted of a choice of three massively overpriced sandwiches complete with the Chef's name emblazoned upon it. His apparent celebrity was out of kilter with the fact that we weren't asked how we would like our steak cooked. So queue the arrival, about twenty minutes later, of three well-done steak sandwiches. Sauces were offered reluctantly and a request for horseradish greeted as if we'd asked for Unicorn milk.

We left thirty-five quid lighter for three sandwiches and three soft drinks. At least we got a smile off the barmaid in the end.

Could be so much better.

7 Jul 2010 22:59

The Three Horseshoes, Letchmore Heath

I like the three horseshoes, but I don't know why.

I usually go there with my girlfriend when we are both 'working from home' and we fancy a spot of lunch. The menu is standard non-gastro-pub fare (Scampi, burgers, lasagne, sandwiches etc etc) and it is almost always not cooked very well but not so bad that you complain about it, if you see what you mean. It's reasonably priced but I'm not sure it's good value if you see what I mean. I tend to come away feeling a bit disappointed.

Having said that I always find the welcoming polite rather than effusive, it's never totally empty and it has a really nice 'proper pub' feel about it, right down to the uncomfortable bench seats.

So there you go. Definitely more than the sum of it's parts. I'll go back but perhaps pick up a sandwich on the way back

30 Jan 2010 14:56

The Royal Oak, Higher Kinnerton

I haven't really done the 'pub' side of things here but have eaten in the restaurant a couple of times when staying at a local B&B. I have to say that the food is excellent, the welcome warm and the staff knowledgeable (perhaps with the exception of the maitre'd who identified a parsnip as celeriac when quizzed upon its provenance by an overseas visitor, no matter, an easy mistake). The ribeye steak is superb and cooked properly; if you ask for rare you get a pink steak with plenty of juice - not the grey offering so many pub chef's manage to produce. It's not the cheapest pub grub in the world but it is definitely value for money. Let's hope business takes me back there again, an evening spent here is a far more palatable alternative than the bland, soulless and ruinous Holiday Inn a few miles away.

30 Jan 2010 14:48

The Woolpack, Fryerning

Went last night. Food and service excellent (if a touch slow). Good value, great ambience. All in all well worth a visit. Will definately go again

4 Mar 2007 21:06