We always struggle to find decent real ale pubs when we come to Yeovil for football....thought we'd be ok here from the reviews but it was a bit disappointing. Six hand pumps, but only three being used. I had a JHB (Oakham) which tasted on, clearly on the turn. The Fullers London Pride then ran out, leaving just a ropey Old Speckled Hen. They clearly don't serve enough real ale to justify a selection of six....would be better off concentrating on one or two served well...There are now 6 handpumps here, and 4 beers were on when I visited. Fairly standard beers, except for Sharp's Atlantic, which was excellent. Well worth a visit. I understand the food and accommodation are also good. And just to clear up any confusion, the pub has gone back to its original name, the Globe & Crown. Yes, very hopeful of the new couple. So many vans in the car park, but all very friendly. I thought the London Pride was OK, but what do I know?

Got in early, before noon, and we had a bit of a wait while the barman finished clearing the lines and obtaining ice for the couple in front of me. However, the pint (forgot what it was) turned out to be delicious and we sat outside in the sun watching the world go by. This pub is a historical gem, not everyone may like the dark interior but I thought it was fantastic. There's a back courtyard and other rooms off the main passageway, the latter goes gently uphill. I felt the friendly barman was doing his best, as we left the tourists were crowding in so it's a good idea to get in early What an imposing building. Got it's name apparently from housing the Christian pilgrims visiting the Abbey. Lots of mullioned windows, old furniture and tapestries. Several little bars off the main hallway and a great range of real ales. Was a bit spoilt for choice, Black Sheep, Otter and Tribute - all proving to be in good condition. Being regular visitors to Glastonbury, the 3 of us thought we'd pop into the G and P for a drink. In we went, the bar was well crowded with locals, but behind the bar itself was deserted. We stood there, a little bit perplexed by the total absence of any staff whatsoever, we waited and waited, and waited. As the locals became aware of us and our situation, they started to sort of mutter gigglingly at us. After a considerable waiting period, and STILL no one came to serve anyone let alone us, we obviously left. Having been in pub management myself in my younger days, I can say with some authority that this is just about the worst way imaginable of running any pub let alone a so called hotel. The usual outcome of this ridiculous incompetence is that the more rowdy type of local will reach over and help themselves to the beer, not to mention the effect it will have on the more discerning would be customer.

Now open again. Interior layout is much as before, but the decor is a bit weird. They
have a number of sort of wire cages dotted around, not quire sure of the significance; but seems somehow reminiscent of a prison.
Also a number of movie quotes painted onto one wall but little else in the movie theme.
Staff are new and inexperienced and the one I took to be the manager seemed to be a tattooed thug who struggled to be polite despite calling everyone Sir or Madam.
Menu looked fairly standard, and already a group of prats seemed to be making themselves at home. The test will be whether the manager decides to chuck them out or sit down and befriend them. Time will tellThe thing about this pub is that it has always attracted scum bags, dossers and those who have refused service by wetherspoons. Changing the name of the pub ain't going to make a difference, the same unemployed benefit scroungers will continue to use it, thereby ensuring that decent members of society will avoid it at all costs.
Until someone is prepared to grasp the nettle and chuck out all of the dross, things will remain the same.Having been Clarke's Tap, Rat & Parrot, Firestone and the Castle Green, it appears that the next name on the list will be the Hideout, when it reopens. Somehow I feel it may not be a specialist real ale bar. I think I may prefer to Hideaway rather than use it!

Doesn't say much for any publican if they go on holiday and just close the pub down, does it? It's not the first time either!Looks as though its closed again...have been passed it 3 times this week and its in darknessSaw yesterday that there is now a big sign saying 'Under New Management'! So the previous people lasted about 2 months. Doesn't sound promising, but at least open. Still haven't been in.

Opened again, back to being called the Winchester. A new name, new paint job and new furniture, together of course with new management and staff.
They sell a couple of ales, nothing special, but drinkable on day of my visit. Most of the bar however seems to be stocked with the usual stuff the kids seem to want: WKD, etc. They also have a couple of fruit machines and plenty of TV screens all over the place so its pretty obvious what sort of market sector they are going for, and no doubt they will get it.

This pub suffers from the same problem as the nearby Castle Green Inn, only in this case, rather than unemployed low life, it's used by members of the yoof society, who have little money to spend and make the pub unpopular with everyone else.
Like the Castle Green Inn it has gone through a number of different names recently as various owners attempt to re market the place, but without success, and like the Castle Green Inn, unless the new owners chuck out the undesirables, things will remain the same.This pub suffers from the same problem as the nearby Castle Green Inn, only in this case, rather than unemployed low life, it's used by members of the yoof society, who have little money to spend and make the pub unpopular with everyone else.
Like the Castle Green Inn it has gone through a number of different names recently as various owners attempt to re market the place, but without success, and like the Castle Green Inn, unless the new owners chuck out the undesirables, things will remain the same.

Well, it opened again after presumably recruiting more staff, but then had to close down again because the staff weren't any good ha ha ha.
Added to that, they have been reported for selling meat that was not fit for human consumption (I guess one of the staff grassed them up on that one)
All in all its becoming a bit of a soap operaOpened up, then closed down again.
According to the local paper they cant get staff of the required standard to work there so they have had to close.
There are plenty of good bar staff and waiting staff in Taunton, but I guess they dont want to work in this place and who can blame them.
No doubt it will open again soon, once they manage to recruit some staff with suitable low standardsNow taken over by Mitchells and Butler and due to open as a Toby carvery.
As carveries go, this place was one of the worst, so anything will be an improvement; even Toby