Crown & Victoria Inn, Yeovil

A village pub with a carpark and a decent garden, just out of earshot of the A303. The Victorian stone house has a single long bar on the ground floor and a conservatory extension, both quite tight with dining tables. On asking whether dogs were allowed inside we were told, somewhat snootily, that they are but only if they weren't big ones and only at one table; similar restrictions didn't seem to apply to children. Food is the main business here, and while it is good, freshly cooked and locally sourced, it is over-priced. Four ales on, two from Butcombes, Doombar and Dartmoor IPA. There were all in good condition and not so expensive. It makes quite a good place to stop for lunch or an early evening meal when travelling, and I'd be happy to spend the evening drinking here.

Well, I always bias my reviews to the Real Ales and atmosphere of a pub, irrespective of whether it is a gastro pub or a back street boozer. It's not pretending to be anything but a gastro pub which is a pity as it is now the only pub in the village. The Beers were Butcombe, Sharps Doom, Chedar Bitter Bully , Potholer and Yeovil Glory, all of which were in good form. Butcombe Blonde is available on Keg and an unusual wheat beer, Meissels Weisse from Bayreuth, Germany. Not sure how many of those get sold round these parts in November. Quite a few eating so the food is popular but as BobOs says, pricey, but it didn't feel awkward supping a few pints.

Another disappointing evening at the Crown & Vic with overpriced small portions - the only reason I return is for the ales, decent and well kept, but this is certainly not the friendly village pub it once was. It used to be a superb village pub that always had an excellent reputation for its ales and food, however it's now another wannabe gastro pub and has simply crammed as many tables as possible in to increase the number of dining covers without leaving much space for drinkers. The welcome left a lot to be desired - a surly "Have you booked?". The menu is above average albeit wordy and pretentious and, I would suggest, overpriced and portions we observed were not over-generous. Something like £14.95 for what is, after all, pie and chips despite the flowery description seems expensive to me. Having said that, I certainly couldn't fault the beers - local brews like Yeovil Ales' Ruby (an excellent red bitter) and Cheddar Ales' Potholer as well as 6X, Butcombe Blonde and Butcombe Bitter - if only there was somewhere comfortable to enjoy it without feeling awkward because you aren't dining. Overall, average.

Pleasant country pub in an attractive village. Friendly staff, decent gardens and a large conservatory. Lacks a little atmosphere though. Good choice of beers with six or seven on tap including three from Butcombe, plus Cheddar Ales Potholer. Also Ashton Press and Gaymers Pear ciders.

lovely village pub good food excelllent staff and service

Official site of the Crown & Victoria - www.thecrownandvictoria.co.uk

Official site of the Crown & Victoria - www.thecrownandvictoria.co.uk