The Hunters Lodge Inn, Wincanton

This is a large roadside pub dating from the 19th Century, which still does B&B and is very close to the A303.  The garden is huge and includes a covered outside terrace, smoking area, children’s adventure playground and a large car park.  Traffic noise from the dual carriageway is constant.  On arrival it feels a bit like a theme park, an illusion reinforced by the sounds, smells and sights when you enter the house.  The door is at the side and leads to a small U-shaped bar which has a laminate floor, an artificial fire that may have been acquired using Green Shield Stamps, in a stone fireplace, all of which gives it a 1970s feel.  There is a larger dining room behind which is similarly tacky.  The inside reeks of stale chip fat, which is only masked when hot food smelling of something else entirely, but equally strongly, is served.  Most of the clientele were families breaking their journeys to or from their annual ‘let’s block the West Country’s roads’ holidays.  There were one or two locals as well, presumably because it was too far to walk elsewhere.  The young waitresses were clearly overworked and under-appreciated, while the bar staff were incredibly slow.  There was only one ale on, Butcombe Original, which was in poor condition.  I really don’t want to come back here. 

Official site of the Hunters Lodge Inn, contains menus - www.hunterslodgeinn.com

Official site of the Hunters Lodge Inn, contains menus - www.hunterslodgeinn.com