The Lamb & Flag, Taunton

A very pleasant village pub, previously The Rose and Crown, dating from the 16th Century. The interior has been opened out to form a large irregular bar space on the ground floor, plus an additional restaurant area upstairs. The upstairs and two of the downstairs tables are not available to dogs. Part of the ceiling has been left open, other than the timbers, to give an open terrace effect. The works have been done very well, and the overall effect is comfortable and cosy. There is a decent sized carpark, some outside seating at the front and an unremarkable garden. There is a separate skittle alley at the back. Three ales on draft, Exmoor Ale, Will’s Neck and Proper Job, plus a guest ale – Cotleigh Tawny – and a cider on gravity behind the bar. The beer was in excellent condition. The staff were pleasant and amiable, cheerful and helpul, but not very efficient. What really lets the pub down is the food. Everything is over-priced, and service is incredibly slow – a simple sandwich cost £7.50 and took 45 minutes to arrive, and it was served on a piece of scrap wood which appeared to be an offcut from a floorboard. Had it arrived on a plate, it may not have slid off and splatted on the table. Portion size and quality of both my sandwich and my companion’s meal did not represent good value for money. I’d be very happy to come back for the ale, which really is very good, but I’ll probably eat elsewhere first.

Dartmoor Best, Tribute, Bays Gold, Otter Bitter. Very old flagstone floor, enormous open inglenook with wood burning stove, open to bar and lounge/restaurant (rt & left of entrance repectively), one can actually walk thru the fireplace, carefully, to access either room. Wood & fabric settles, solid tables, a spiral staircase in lounge finishes (now) at ceiling level. Large garden with picnic sets & a small covered area with weathered wood table, good view from the grassed area. Beer was in good condition, but my pal's lasagne had no bechamel sauce, making it a rather dry mince & pasta dish, and the paninis lacked flavour. I notice from the L&F website that they have a skittle alley, missed that. I think the view is toward the northeast – see google satellite for the building at junction of Curdleigh Ln & Blagdon Hill, and assess the direction looking from the picnic sets…