The Five Dials Inn, Ilminster

A roadside pub, formerly a coaching inn on what was the main road to Exeter before the A303. The pub still offers B&B. The main building is a Georgian house and there is a more modern extension at the back, which houses the B&B accommodation. There is plenty of parking, though the garden seems a bit small for a pub of this size. There is additional outside seating by the road if you want to watch the traffic go by. The main entrance is now from the car park, from which you can turn left into the bar or right into a more formal dining area. Food is a bit nouvelle cuisine, but it’s prepared from locally sourced ingredients and isn’t too expensive for the area. The bar is modern and bright, fairly spacious and has plenty of seating. There were 3 ales on: Manu Bay and Doombar from Sharps, and Otter Bright. I had the Otter, which was in good condition. The staff were welcoming and friendly, though some of the diners were a bit anti-social, and a couple of the barflies seemed a bit put out when we went to the bar to buy drinks, meaning they had to move aside as it was busy. I’m quite happy to drop in for lunch or a quick pint when passing, which I do a couple of times a month.