Pen Mill Hotel, Yeovil

Originally a coaching inn dating from around 1800, then an hotel serving the nearby Pen Hill Station when the railway arrived. It’s still an hotel, trying to be a restaurant, managing to be a reasonable pub with B&B. There is a good sized car park and a large seating area at the front. The ground floor contains a single large bar and dining area, light and airy, modernised and redecorated after a major fire a few years ago. The gaming machines and TV showing BBC news detract from the restaurant feel, while the food is, at best, average pub quality; an exception is the fresh, locally made pork pies which were excellent. It is also noisy inside due to its propinquity to the busy main road. It is dog friendly, the staff are pleasant and the customers normal. There were two ales on, both from Sharps – I had a pint of Atlantic, which was in very good condition and most refreshing. Worth dropping in if passing.

Visited several times during the past year, the latest visit being this week on Valentine's Day. Although the service was admirable, to say we were disappointed with the actual meal is a bit of an understatement - my 10oz steak must have had 7oz of fat and gristle spread evenly throughout its mass and the hand-cut triple-cooked chips had been left to 'rest' far too long such that they were dried out, hard, and mostly left uneaten. The cheese board was not exactly first rate with just three grapes each as a garnish, no butter, no chutney, etc. Worst of all? - both of us felt unwell throughout the night and far into the next day. Slipped back to a 4/10 for me.