Miller & Carter Taunton, Taunton

Official site of Miller & Carter Taunton - www.millerandcarter.co.uk

Official site of Miller & Carter Taunton - www.millerandcarter.co.uk

Located next to junction 25 of the M5 and adjacent to a Premier Inn this Toby Carvery is in a premium location to attract a transient crowd. I visited early on a recent Sunday evening in the hope of grabbing some food, but they were not taking walk-ins. I suppose Sunday is the worst day to rock up to a Carvery without a reservation. The L-shaped bar supports three handpumps, Timothy Taylors Landlord (x2) was off, but Sharps Doom Bar was available. There are also five or six keg products. Outside there are car parks either side of the pub and at the rear is a large grass covered area that seemed somewhat redundant as there were no picnic tables. The service was polite, but I wouldn’t go here just for a beer.

Previously The Blackbrook Tavern and The Rose and Crown, this large roadside pub has been extended with a horrible single story annex at the back.  There is a large car park to accept grockle traffic from the adjacent motorway junction, and there is a sizeable garden, though despite all that al fresco space, smokers still congregate in the back door space, even in good weather.  In the annex is a large open dining area with carvery counter, while there are two nice bars, one quite small and cosy, in the original pub, with traces of the original character enduring through exposed timbers and large fireplaces.  Sadly  the potentially pleasant atmosphere is spoilt by gaming machines, screens showing day-time TV and loud children of all ages.  The single bar counter is too small for it to be a pub, though it is good enough for a restaurant.  In any case, there were too few staff on to  manage a longer bar.  There was a jukebox which added nothing but jarring noise.  Hoards of unsupervised children roamed freely, while the staff were inefficient and overworked, though friendly enough when we eventually caught their attention.  The only ale on was Doombar, much too cold, overgassed and in poor condition.  There were no bottled alternatives, so Thatcher's Gold seemed to be the best bet.  I don't think I'll rush to come back.