please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
One of the better pubs in Taunton, we enjoyed our visit here.
Not sure whether a would like it on a packed night in here mind.
The pub is actually quite long but the bar area is fairly small.
Very traditional in here and pleasant when quieter.
8/10
|
A typical Irish pub, so no surprise to learn that the land lady was recently in court and charged with assault (guilty)
|
The atmosphere in this pub on a Friday and Saturday night is terrific. Usually packed as there is a band playing. People of all ages although maturity dominates - but the clientele seem to be in good humour even when you bump into them endlessly. The decor is tired and, to be honest, has a bit of a touch of faux-oldness, but the landlord is a bloody good egg and always friendly.
|
Nice to drink here for a reliable good pint of St Austell beer
|
Very nice little Irish type bar, good atmosphere, although the lady I. Charge was lacking a sense of humour. Get pass this and you have a very good pub/location.
|
Found a surprisingly large rear garden here, bit of a suntrap. Usual St. Austell beer range and that's a good thing by the way. One of the best pubs on our visit to Taunton.
|
A very pleasant St Austell pub with friendly landlord and locals. In (at least) the last 3 Good Beer Guides and from the quality of the Proper Job which we drank, deservedly so.
Well worth visiting if you're looking for a proper pub.
|
This place was mainly populated by locals. It has multiple rooms. A small bar at the front has a large open corridor with tables and chairs to the side, which connects to a larger bar at the rear. Further beyond, there is one more cosy area and another narrow side bar, which was closed off during our visit. Plenty of old signs and mirrors line the walls. Many (we counted at least a dozen) advertise Guinness. Toby jugs can be seen above the bar. St Austell beers available were Dartmoor Best Bitter, Tribute & Proper Job. Cider was Cornish Rattler. A nice enough pub, but the initial welcome from the Irish landlady seemed a bit frosty.
|
Well-kept St Austell ales, the last pub in Taunton.
|
sort of 40 + lads pub, when you're too old to go clubbing, ok if you're into that "I'm still a Geezer" mentality...
|
Guess there is always someone who complains bout sumtin. the last i heard the racehorse was still known as the best pub to go to in taunton. Ill keep drinking there thats for sure.
|
The desire to drink here has witnessed a noticeable loss, no longer a get there early destination, but more of a - what a shame another drab Taunton pub ! The dark stuff is and always has been good here, but rapid expansion and change of ownership has taken its toll.
|
mm101 Pretty funny for you to say the lanadlady had a few when she wasnt even in the racehorse that night
|
Possibly the only busy pub in the town on a week night?
Decent traditional boozer, lacks in quality and choice but what they do seems to go down well. Can't stand Tribute, (what is the obsession in Taunton when there are so many other decent ales?) But reverted to Guinness and as expected it was a decent pint.
Seems to have a good local following, landlady looked quite intimidating and seemed very abrupt but she'd had a few, so might call in again.
Shame they don't even do sandwiches or light snacks.
mm101 - 29 May 2009 17:57 |
Just about the only proper pub left in Taunton now.
I too agree with Yo Yo et al about the ubiquity of St Austel ales.
They're not bad. but not great either.
|
We need your pity.
|
Ok pub but nothing special. If this is the best Taunton has to offer, I pity the locals! And I can see why st austells would soon become tiresome.
|
Don't take my comment about being tired of St Austell Ales the wrong way. This is best traditional pub in Taunton.
|
Yes, the only decent pub in Taunton. Decent managers with a sense of humour and a great atmosphere. No kids and great real ales, not to mention the best Guiness in the area.
|
I agree with YoYo re St Austell Ales. Still, the Racehorse is one of the two best pubs in Taunton along with the Plough down the other end of town. This pub has three bars, a conservatory type affair over the old yard, and a large beer garden which is a wonderful sanctuary away from the hordes of shoppers on a sunny afternoon........well worth a visit.
|
Am I the only one that finds St. Austell beers a bit tiresome? They could really use a guest beer.
|
to me the new owners have settled in without a problem. there friendly and make everyone feel welcome. they have the best pint of bitter and i have heard they won an award for the tribute,dartmoor and tinners getting a 5 star rating. gd atmosphere nd i feel the only decent pub left in taunton
|
Now owned by the St. Austell Brewery, perhaps the most southerly brewery in mainland England. Nevertheless, they still pump their beer through northern style swan neck pumps fitted with northern style diffuser sparklers which to my mind is not the way it should be done.
Otherwise a traditional no nonsense old boozer.
|
One of only 2 decent pubs in Taunton, this one and the newley opened Plough on Station Rd, great atmos and best of all decent beer...Dartmoor and Tribute both from Cornish Brewery who now own the pub and have put a manager in. Great Beer garden in the summer, which The Plough lacks, having said that beeter choice of local ales in the plough than The Racehorse.....overall Great Pub!!
|
Under new ownership
|
On a dismal walk around Taunton the mood was reduced significantly by this pub being closed!! In a beer desert they should have been raking it in!!
|
Excellent pub and one of the few excellent ones in Taunton. Value for money, good atmosphere and a decent pint of Guinness.
|
This pub is widely regarded as the only "true" pub in taunton, that hasn't sold out in any way whatsoever. It laso has a beer garden out the back, despite it's towen centre location.
|
Excellent pub with an excellent atmosphere. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, the cheapest pint of Guinness outside of Weatherspoons in Taunton.
|
GREAT!
|
Best pub in Taunton, best pint and great courtyard area in the Summer.
Once the smoking ban comes in I'll be spending more time drinking at the Racehorse as that's the only thing that currently spoils it.
If you can get a window seat it's a great place to watch the chav boy racers drive their crappy cars up and down East reach hill.
|
I don't know what it was about this place. Not exactly hostile, but not welcoming either, which is a pity because it's a nice rambling sort of a pub.
|
Spent many years living (and drinking) in Taunton and would agree that this is the only real pub in the town to get a real pint of ale. One of the few remaining traditional pubs in the town that has avoided being refurbished with television screens, halogen lighting and cheap gassy beer. Hope it never changes.
|
Great Real Ale, Nice Old Building Too, 8/10
|
Now they've extended the patio garden out the back, its a must for the summer. The reason you wait to get served is because its so popular so therefore a victim of its own success. Great little place.
|
The best pub in Taunton is not saying much, and this isn't the best pub in Taunton.
Unless you are one of the landlords muckers or are Irish you might have a long wait for a drink, and don't be suprised if the bar closes before you have been served, even if you have been waiting for twenty minutes.
|
The best pub in Taunton? It's is certainly the most traditional pub in town.
|
