The Crown Inn, Bridgwater

This pub is situated on the edge of the reasonably large village of Catcott. It has a large car park, which appears to be home to a few motorhomes. Ignoring the sliding door from the garden at the rear, which was slightly ajar, I tried to enter the pub from the road side of the building at the front. I tried a couple of doors without success, eventually returning to the door from the garden and car park. Whilst Sky Sports was blasting away on a large screen and some lights were on, there appeared to be nobody home. After walking around for a bit to see if I could find somebody, I toyed with the idea of ringing the bell, before thinking better of it. Eventually, I thought I'd give them a call. But there was no telephone signal to find out the number. So, I used the wifi code at the side of the bar and worked out the number, before having to step back outside and give them a call. Needless to say that I could hear the telephone ringing and a after a short while, a lady passed the phone to a guy who eventually came down to serve me. I think that they had closed up as they were so quiet. But the open door meant that I didn't leave the village without a drink. Doom Bar, Atlantic & Tribute were the real ales and real cider is no longer served. I'm genuinely surprised to see this pub in the 2021 Good Beer Guide.

A working country pub with 17th Century roots just outside the village, certainly not a chocolate-box tourist location. There is a large unsurfaced car park and a functional garden, the latter having children’s play apparatus as a significant feature. Inside, the bar area is largely unspoilt, having flagstone floors, structural timbers and a large stone fireplace on display. The rooms have been partially opened out, but it has kept much of its character. There is a skittle alley which doubles as a function room, and a separate small bar has a food servery used for carveries. Food is freshly cooked using local ingredients, mostly standard pub grub at a reasonable price. There is a wine list but it isn’t that impressive. Ales on were Exmoor Ram and Otter Ale from handpumps plus Trewlawny straight from the barrel behind the bar. There was also a boxed cider. The Ram had just gone off, so I had a pint of Trelawny which was in perfect condition. They’re on the Somerset 2019 Ale Trail, and it’s worth making the effort to find for their food and beer.

A good character country pub on the edge of the Somerset levels with 3 or 4 well kept real ales and a reasonable range of good pub food. Friendly landlord and staff makes a difference and I can recommend.