The Plough Inn, Kingham

I love this pub. It will no doubt grate with some beerintheevening drinkers, but looking at its offering, there's no doubting that some serious homework has taken place here.
The chef is a Heston Blumenthal prodigy, but has taken on the task of creating a proper English pub menu very seriously indeed. Meals are on the pricey side (we spent about �130 on lunch for two � although we did have a cheeky glass of bubbly to begin, and stretched our waistbands for the full three courses). A very affordable bar snack menu is also available and their pork pies and Scotch eggs are to die for.
Simply, pleasingly renovated, celebrating local microbrewers (it's free of tie with Hooky and some local ciders on tap) and food producers, this is a new breed of local. And whether you like it or not, The Plough is forging a new way for country and village pubs in this country.

14 May 2008 13:54

The Lord Poulett Arms, Hinton St George

A brilliant pub, oozing character. Sensitively refurbed. The staff are superstars: we went on a packed Monday night and the two girls serving food AND working the bar were just brilliant. We had to wait a while as it was so busy, but were kept in the loop by them and offered a drink on the house. As well as some more high-end dishes, there were some generous portions priced at a tenner.
Lovely wine, the real ale deal with the barrels at the back of the bar and a really lovely mix of locals and visitors to the area.
The rooms upstairs (where we stayed) have been beautifully done: apart from a very creaky vintage French framed bed that kept us awake! Loos are across the corridor to a couple of the rooms, but it's your own loo and they provide robes to hide the embarrassment!
Love it. Great pub. Good food. Excellent staff. Good beer. Couple of local ciders. Great wine list. Highly recommended.

14 May 2008 13:42

The Bath Arms, Horningsham

I had a very generous portion of macaroni cheese (a great, creamy, comforting, oozing dish) as a starter and needed nothing else. Quirky, and full of diners on a midweek lunchtime. (Some may see that as bad, others as good � me? I like a pub that's got some atmosphere and people in it, rather than just some weird guy at the bar chewing tobacco and making a pint last for the entire week...).
Service was aloof (very). Location was good. Lovely outside terrace. The d�cor kind of hit the spot for me. Trying to be metropolitan, boutique hotel cool, but a bit off the mark. I found the large plastic dustbins sat in the middle of the bar area not a particularly brilliant design touch. A definite lack of attention to detail.
But... saying all that, I still liked it. And would go back.

14 May 2008 13:37