The Quantock, Bridgwater

A former hunting lodge sometimes referred to as "The Quantock Gateway", this Greene King carvery sits on the main road from Bridgwater to Minehead and is therefore mainly a tourist pit stop. There is a large car park and a paved outside seating area, though sitting outside is neither peaceful nor relaxing due to the noise. The building has been substantially refurbished inside, which has stripped it of any character or architectural charm. The single large bar and dining area has been created by conjoining the downstairs public rooms. It's carpeted, and there are several gaming machines, an open hearth with a woodburner and muted TVs showing sports. The staff were generally pleasant and helpful, although on arrival it was quite unwelcoming to be told to wait at the 'reception' (a wooden podium) while they checked to see if they had room for us - the number of empty tables with no 'Reserved' signs on indicated this wasn't a difficult thing to establish. The carvery food looked like good value for money and certainly came in huge portions. Three ales on, GK IPA, Abbott and Old Speckled Hen, all predictably unexciting but fresh. By no means the worst of this chain, and I'd be happy to stop by if I were passing and in the right mood to put up with grockles and their free-range offspring.