The Summerhouse, Weston Super Mare

A modern Marston’s pub in a rather convoluted building with multiple floor levels and architectural features, including brick arches and stained-glass windows, that make it feel more like a Disney ride than a local pub; the interior is described by Blackthorn, below. There is a large car park and a rather awful outside seating area which falls short of being a pleasant garden. The large pile of fag ends and other litter was blowing into the doorway. Inside, it felt sterile and devoid of atmosphere. Two ales on, Hobgoblin Gold and Pedigree, both over gassed and tasteless. The staff were pleasant enough, though many of the other clients were of the belligerent, entitled and obese kind that you might have found in a Soviet-era lunatic assylum. The food, consisting of the standard Marston’s ready-made stuff, just looked uninspiring and unhealthy. This wasn’t an enjoyable visit and it’s unlikely to be repeated in any season.

Official site of The Summerhouse - www.summerhousepub.co.uk

Official site of The Summerhouse - www.summerhousepub.co.uk

A large and modern, purpose built, multi-level pub near the railway station this has the mass-produced bland feel of many chain pubs, and whilst it’s not unpleasant there is little that inspires you to linger too long or make a return visit. Decor wise it’s a mixture of wood cladding and exposed brick work, including a couple of brick arches, with carpeted flooring. Food features fairly prominently, and the upper mezzanine level is presumably restricted to diners only since you have to go past a “please wait here to be seated” lectern in order to access it. This has a wooden balustrade around the edge offering views of the lower part of the pub. The menu looked to be the usual chain pub offering with an extensive menu divided in to sections such as sharing platters, fish, pub favourites, spice selection, flame grills and burgers. Most of the mains appeared to be around the £8 - £10 mark. There were also several more dishes listed on a specials board. There were a few sofas off to one side and a plasma screen stuck up on the wall, although this was not in use and a fruit machine or two opposite the bar. Despite five hand pumps on the bar, two of them were doubled up so the beers on offer were Oxford Gold, Pedigree and Hobgoblin. Ciders were Thatcher’s Gold and Strongbow. Overall this no doubt suits punters who aren’t really interested in pubs but just want to come out for a meal with the family, and is I suppose a handing stopping point should you be waiting for a train. It’s also clean and tidy, but with little in the way of character and a fairly mundane beer selection, it’s not somewhere that a pub enthusiast is going to make a special effort to get to.