please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Walking across the green this place from afar looks like an interesting old pub, however inside is a total culture shock.
I agree many a tourist must have felt the same as we did and to top it off the landlord said we are closing at 4:30 today on a Saturday afternoon!
However my pint of Henekein was very good and at quite good price.
Was just so shocked to see a place like this.
5/10
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It's now called "the Atlantic Radio Cafe". It was closed today.
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A big banner outside advising that the lease is up for grabs again, so expect a closure any time soon.
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Recently visited twice while waiting for buses. Very handy for that. It actually isn't bad. Three real ales on, and the pub has Cask Marque accreditation. The music isn't too loud, and the screens weren't too obtrusive. Probably a pub to avoid when live football is on, but not bad in the day. Food menu looks good as well, so that may have to be investigated.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Having been the Winchester, Drawing Room and Knight's Rest, this pub has now reopened as (wait for it) the Winchester! Doesn't look too bad though - 3 real ales on, which is slightly more than the number of customers in when I looked! Pubs in Taunton just love changing their names. We shall see.
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Ha Ha some predictions are easier than others.
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Can you predict next Saturdays Lotto numbers for me Cellarbuoy. Joking aside though yes it was batting on a sticky wicket recently, did hear the food wasn't so good and trade seemed to be dropping off (was in one Saturday night before Xmas and you could count on two hands the people in).
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Not my wish, just a prediction.
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Well you got your wish Cellarbuoy regarding not lasting too long looking at what they've posted on Facebook. Doors closing again...
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Quite a big pub but with a very low ceiling giving it a gloomy feel. It seems to be staffed by South Africans which makes it gloomier still.
A sort of jazz trio were playing at he time of my visit, but the musicians couldn't play, and the singer couldn't sing. The beers were mundane and far from being in good condition so not really worth drinking, especially at their prices.
Cant see it surviving for long in this format
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Ale was not good at all & the young woman who served me had cell plone in her hand. Not for me at all
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Just one point of order Cellarbuoy. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but it was the owners other venture The Live Room in Taunton that went bust rather than this place in itself. The reason given on the Facebook page for leaving here was due to "health and personal" reasons.
As for the pub itself, well did enjoy a few pints of Thatchers Gold last Sunday with some relaxing Jazz going on which made for a nice visit. Been in a few times now (admittedly mainly Saturay and Sunday afternoons) and seems to be getting a bit busier each time.
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I had a pint here last Saturday, unfortunately it wasn’t in the best condition. A young lady with a soulful voice was playing guitar outside the front of the pub which made my visit more enjoyable. I wouldn’t recommend however if you are looking for a good pint of real ale
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Well, Cellarbuoy got it spot on (as usual) in his post of some 15 months ago by predicting this place wouldn't last long. It didnt. The owners who thought they knew it all didnt and went bust.
The new owners have a similar atitude, it seems
They have changed the name to "the Knights Rest" although the bar staff seem to think it means the "night Rest" and think that this is what they are in for whilst on the evening shift.
They should have taken the advice of cellarbuoy and re employed the lettering and signage (hopefully in storaage) andre named it the WINCHESTER
Cellarbuoy usually gets these things right.
Good luck to the latest owners. Will report later.
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Believe this has now been rebranded as the Knights Rest.
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Noticed today that the big gold lettering "WINCHESTER ARMS" have now been removed; perhaps the new owners read my previous post.
One can only hope they have put the letters away somewhere safe as I reckon the next tenants will be wanting them soon.
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Now re opened and re named "The Drawing Room" even though it still has "WINCHESTER ARMS" in big gold letters as in the photo.
This pub has been opening and closing like you know what over the years but always attracted arseholes.
Now, with a new name and a lick of paint (still smells of paint inside) the new owners hope to turn things around. Good luck to them. They seem very young and somewhat naive, and all to over familiar which is typical of someone lacking confidence. I was tempted to tell the barman to mind his own damm business when he asked me how my day had been.
It aint cheap, �3.20 for a pint of mediocre ale. I guess these prices may drive away the benefit scrounging low life, but alas they will also drive away everone else. Me for sure. In a town of mediocre pubs, there is no more room for one other, even one with with a daft name
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closed down but planning to open again soon, but for how long? who knows.
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Went past here the other night; they had some band playing so loud the "music" could be heard throughout the town centre. It was either a punk band, or else they could play their instruments. Either way it was pure sh!te and although I didnt bother going in it seemed from the outside that most other people thought the same. Dont expect this pub to stay open for much longer; there are better pubs than this in Taunton struggling.
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DOES DEON THE TRANNY STILL COME IN THIS PLACE. HAVENT SEEN HER FOR A WHILE. SHES SOME SORT OF TECHNICAL BLOKE WHEN SHE WEARS A SUIT. SHE BUILT ME A WALL FOR MY OUTHOUSE AND IT FELL DOWN.
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Ha ha ha ha love the word, "Plonkerama" !
For God's sake, even a monkey with learning difficulties can see that the pair of you are responding at the same time, and even the same place.
Question:- How many racist reviewers are there on BITE ?
Answer:- 2.....The_Final_Arbiter....."and I shall not return until these people go back to Normandy...George and Pilgrim in Glastonbury"
Dr_Pangloss....."Perhaps they should consider relocatiog (back to Ireland)...Royal Oak in Winsford"
There's plenty more, "coincidences".
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Look Plonkerama, can't you see when you're being taken for a ride?
As The Final Arbiter has said, you really are on the dim side.
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You fail to grasp it.
You're following him.
I'm following you.
I'm just chucking in my penn'orth because you're thick.
(I don't like thick)
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Ho ho, Oh dear, tut tut. You interfere with everything and everybody, you hurt countless people. You pick me up on an apostrophe just for the sake of your usual cocky slanderous ways. I warned you that I might take a leaf out of your book and follow you around sticking a mindless oar in. Good innit ?
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I give up.
One can't educate pork.
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It's hoonkerama you increasingly semi literate pub pest, and there's plenty of evidence that suggests that you and The_Final_Arbiter are the same person.
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The Twerp Honkerama also needs to understand that I am not The Final Arbiter
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You're a sad little bugger.
I am not Dr Pangloss.
Live with it.
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This Final_Arbiter / Dr_Pangloss pest meant, "I cant even give them 1 / 10 for trying, as they are even NOT doing that".
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This pub has always had poor amaturish owners/tenants and the latest are no different.
Lousy food, lousy drinks and lousy service.
I cant even give them 1 / 10 for trying, as they are even doing that
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Endured a Carvery there today, walked in and all looked promising, went to order at the bar, and the lady did nothing but flap, glum looking woman, who served us and took our money, she did rave about the carvery, and the surface it looked good, 3 meats 9 vegetables! However the service from the person carving was appalling, he was just plain rude. The meat was dry and tough and the vegetables were like baby food. Will not be going here again!
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Not quite sure where to start, so ill start at the beer, a vast array of taps and yet only two lagers been served, two large fridges and yet not even a fifth full. Not exactly a great choice. We do however purchase our drinks and decide to sit down and look at the food menu. We had been told there was a new chef and that he had cooked a homemade Lasagne that had not long come out of the oven. My wife decided to go for this, and she was thouroughly impressed packed with meat and at least five vegetables, she devoured it! though she did leave the strange scattering of chips that had been put on the plate, such a shame. I had a steak that was cooked exactly how i asked for it. Food excellent, barstaff who i also think to be the landlady, rude and a bit arrogant, saw her having a go at a member of staff in the corner, scary lady! But top notch food!
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Yes, open again although the new owners not making much of an effort. Called in on Sunday, no ales so I left.
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It's now open again Paris. New owners etc. I believe.
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Closed - I'm surprised it has stayed open for as long as it has. Potential to be a great pub
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Dangerously unhygenic, as declared by the local health inspectors who gave it a NO STAR AWARD following a recent visit.
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Another nice looking pub in the centre of Taunton, but inside it is plain awful. Badly kept beer, revolting food and poor service.
A shame really as it could be a great pub in the right hands.
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Hmm. Despite all the bad reviews I thought I'd pop in as I'm staying in a nearby hotel. Not quite as bad as I expected. Lively for a Wednesday. Jam session going on. Otter beer acceptable if over priced. Bar staff friendly. D�cor a bit uninspiring. All in all, not too bad.
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as a contractor looking for a decent pint in a decently priced pub, i found this 1 the most accomodating, excellent food at a good price, good atmosphere and beautiful barmaids, well worth another visit.
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Used to be relatively OK but now full of chavs and other low-lifes. Service is seriously shoddy and beers poorly kept. I won't be back.
BobOs - 27 Aug 2008 00:04 |
Only been at lunchtime: service shambolic - but then that seems to be the case in Taunton. First time I walked out as no one behind the bar. Been a couple more times, and felt like I was in a nightclub in the morning. However, good pub food for those prepared to wait!
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DIRE!!!!!!!!!
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�3.00 For Otter, Flippin Crap!
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O.M.G.
What a dump. How can anyone get things this wrong
�3.00 a pint of standard bitter (otter) is O.T.T. in London, in Taunton it's just robbery. Apart from anything else it was undrinkable anyway.
The management here are clueless no worse- brainless.
A lovely pub empty at 10.00 on a Friday night apart from a buch of chavs smoking dope in the toilets whilst the manager is at the bar pissed out of his mind. Otherwise the place was empty. No wonder.
Quite how the worst publican of the year managed to get himself esconsed in this place is beyond reason.
The worst pub in Taunton by a country mile, and yes, that includes the two whetherspoons pubs and even the naval and military. It's that bad.
A thoroughly undeserved zero. It should be a minus score.
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still a dump!!
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Oh dear. The most expensive pint in Taunton with the worst music loudly playing - the barmaids playlist. Why has Taunton got such god-awful pubs?
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HOW MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Next time I will print off the reviews. Cr*p Cr*p Cr*p!!
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Utter crap.
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well worth avoiding
anonymous - 6 Sep 2007 12:39 |
what a crap place,wouldn't drink there if it was the only pub open.should be like the George, closed down!
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Closed at 10:00 on a Wednesday night. Is this the shape of things to come?
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From the outside this pub looks like it is part of the historic norman castle complex however. However, inside you realize it really dates back the time of the neanderthal. I pity all the guests of the fine Castle Hotel that decide to take in some Taunton culture and mistakenly wander in here. Unsuprisingly, there are no real ales.
The pub is next to the main bus station and I pity the bus company.
The only redeeming feature: If its a fine day, you can get your beer ina plastic cup and drink it on the castle green.
anonymous - 13 Dec 2006 12:27 |
It's never been the same since they moved the fag machine...
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