Watchfield Inn, Highbridge

Although still family run, the pub has had a substantial renovation which has destroyed any country charm it may have had. It looks traditional from the outside, a Victorian farmhouse-style building with a gravel car park and a large garden, much of which has been turned over to caravans and campers. On entry it feels like stepping into a huge hanger, a large, echoey pace the full height of the building and a very TARDIS-like experience. There is what looks like an oversized brick pizza oven at one side, and the square bar counter is open on all 4 sides. It has the feel of a cheap chain pub, which it isn’t. Staff were friendly, though, and they had one ale, Tribute in fair condition, and one real cider from Riches. There was also a bank of megakeg offerings. Food was also good, basic pub grub at a reasonable price, although the selection of tables and seating arrangements made it difficult to eat comfortably. Fine to drop in if passing or you want to park your road-blocker for the night, but I shouldn't come here regularly as it lacks pub atmosphere and is mainly intended for the grockle trade.

Facebook page of Watchfield Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Watchfield Inn - www.facebook.com

A fairly traditional looking country pub in a slightly out of the way location perhaps, but nonetheless only a mile or two from the main A38 and on the way to Mark if you’re coming from the south. There is a beer garden to the right, approximately half of which was under cover and rather usually, a camping site at the rear and there were a couple of motorhomes in on our visit. Internally, it’s a good-sized pub, predominantly one large open plan room located around a central bar counter, but also with a couple of rooms off to the sides, one of which looked to be more of a dining area, whilst another housed a couple of pool tables. Flooring was some sort of slate tiling, whilst the walls were mostly rough cream plasterwork with some pale green wood panelling down below. There were also some areas of exposed brick, including a conical chimney breast and much of the bar counter. A high vaulted ceiling in front of the bar counter was something of a feature, and there were numerous attractive pieces of wildlife artwork for sale. So far, so good, but overall, I didn’t really take to it, although it’s difficult to pin down exactly why. Certainly, the fruit machines and video jukebox didn’t help, but it also had rather a chavy air to it in my opinion, not helped by a couple of guys lounging around the bar who were not wearing shirts. Unfortunately, there were no real ales on tap, and not much in the way of keg either come to that, with just Shipyard Pale Ale and Tetley Smooth being the only ones that I spotted. Ciders were dominated by Thatcher’s with no less than seven available – Gold, Haze, Rascal, Cloudy Lemon, Dark Berry, Blood Orange and Rosé. Considering Rich’s Cider are quite literally just a stone’s throw away, I’m surprised they didn’t have more from them, although they did at least have a box of theirs on the bar counter.