The Ring Of Bells, Taunton

Upmarket place still insisting on door greeting and table service. Cadre of green-clad staff mooching about looking for something to do which made me feel ill at ease. Interior is a number of knocked-through rooms, a charcoal and muddy green colour scheme alongside a sanded board floor. A proper fire was on the go, though frankly it was a warm enough day as it was. In an odd twist, the TV screen showing rolling news was purple and clearly kaput – incongruous, given the upmarket pretensions. Five cask; Bath Gem (3.5), Quantock Olicana (3) New Bristol Heydey (4), BBF Danger High Voltage (3.5) and Otter Amber plus two crafty kegs, listed on a thick paper printout with prices being the ‘4.6’ variety, urgh. Inevitably, card payment only. Not my kind of place at all but the beer was certainly good. So mixed feelings – if you can shrug off the pretensions then there’s good cask to be had here.

Good Beer Guide 2020 Entry - and deservedly so. Food, Beer Garden, friendly staff, 3-4 hand pulls on. I noticed London Pride but had an Otter Amber. A good choice when breaking up a long journey on the M5 from the Midlands to South Devon.

An excellent GBG pub, a Victorian town boozer with superb beer. The staff were welcoming and jovial, The interior is well described by Aqualung, below; the TV room to which he refers was set out as a dining room this time, though the telly was still on showing football. There is a very pleasant enclosed garden at the back which is a nice contrast to the Town centre. The clientele on this occasion were mainly ale drinkers, though there people drinking wine and megakeg as well, plus a couple dining. Overall the atmosphere was that of a friendly, inclusive local. Ales on this time were Tim Taylor’s Boltmaker, Oakham Citra, Yeovil Hopkandi, Wotter Shot and Fortitude. All were in first class condition, except the Hopkandi which was better than that. Definitely a pub of choice in Taunton and an essential inclusion in a town crawl.

Official site of The Ring of Bells - www.theringofbellstaunton.com

Official site of The Ring of Bells - www.theringofbellstaunton.com