Plume Of Feathers, Sherborne

A plain terraced Wadsworth pub, in undressed stone with Tudor style windows, brightened by hanging baskets The interior is an L-shape around the bar, which is down to the right on entry. It is open plan, but with a few different areas and what seemed to be a more dedicated food area at the bottom, separated by a pool table area from the bar/loungey areas. The décor is a mix of cream, green and wood panel, with a cream and beige ceiling, along with a brick fireplace. There was no music and the TV wasn’t on when I visited, late afternoon. The service was fine and the clientele few, but mixed. There were old photos on the walls. Beer; tap stuff, with Wadsworth 6X, Henry’s IPA and Horizon on handpull – the Horizon was fine. The pub lacked a bit of charm, but the beer I had was fine. A solid enough pub, to me, but as JB says, you wouldn’t leave the Digby Tap for it – I did, as I try anywhere!

The Plume is a traditional market town boozer in a nice old building which caters primarily for the hard-of-thinking under-25s. Evenings are generally not pleasant, but on a Monday lunchtime I found the pub quiet and relatively normal. Two Wadworths beers on, I had the Henry and it was fine, kept at the right temperature and very welcome. The staff are not the brightest, the clientele are those who aren´t yet grown up enough to go to the Digby Tap just along the road and the food is dire, but there´s something I like about the place itself; it is a piece of Sherborne´s history after all. Worth dropping in for a quick pint when it's quiet, and should be part of a crawl (there are probably only 3 pubs in Sherborne which are), but I wouldn't want to spend a whole evening here in its current format.

Visited in October 2010 Situated virtually opposite Sherborne Abbey in the centre of town is The Plume of Feathers, an attractive looking stone building with hanging flower baskets. Inside however, it’s a rather featureless bare boarded modernised interior with two adjoining drinking areas, but with little of any note of interest or character at all. It’s a Wadworths pub, which on my recent Saturday evening visit, was indicating on the 4 pumps that Wadworths 6X, Henry’s IPA, Malt and Hops plus Horizon were available. Unfortunately, in true Wetherspoons style, it transpired that, of the 4 real ales advertised, only Horizon - £ 2.90p – was on. On expressing my disappointment to the chirpy barmaid, she optimistically pointed out that Henry’s Smooth ( keg ) was also available. The pub features in a leaflet entitled “Welcome to Wadworthshire” which details a number of town strolls, one of which starts at this pub. The particular stroll in question is worth doing, but, quite frankly, the pub isn’t. A very disappointing experience - not worth leaving The Digby Tap for.