Hideout, Taunton

Finalist of the Somerset CAMRA pub of the year for 2012

Will concur with Paris, this is probably as good as it gets for ale choice and quality in Taunton centre (outside of having to utilise the ‘spoons). An entrant in the 2011 GBG, there’s a plaque on the wall indicating that this pub was Somerset CAMRA Pub of the Year runners up for 2011. The four pumps at the time of my visit included Bays Gold and Bays Best and Hopback Summer lightning and both the Bays beers were well kept pints. This is a lot larger pub than it looks from the outside with two large seating sections either side of the central serving area. It lacked a bit of atmosphere to me and had a formulaic Wetherspoons feel to it, rather than a traditional pub, but when chatting to a couple of the locals apparently this current guise is a much better improvement to when it was called the firestone a few years back and an unused warehouse further back still.

Still maintaining reasonably high standards for Taunton; 3 of the 4 hanpumps available were Cotleigh at the weekend; I went for thr Moor Revival.

A large, stable like building opposite the Castle Hotel, The Firestone is now known as the Castle Green Inn as is now probably in the top 3 or 4 best pubs in Taunton. The new Ownership/Management are certainly trying hard and have spotted a gap in the market in Taunton; a gap that can be filled by selling a variety of good ale. Always have 4 cask ales which vary all the time and always have a local cider behind the bar. Yesterday there was Otter Amber, Wickwar Coopers, Dartmoor and another I can't recall. I had a Wickwar and was pleasantly surprised to be charged only £2. They run a beer club every Wednesday which one can join for a few pounds and enjoy the various beers at a discount. There is also an opportunity for customers to request Breweries to be stocked. Interesting photographs on the wall showing Ian Botham, Joel Garner and Vivian Richards playing cricket on the nearby County Ground in the 1970/80's. Jazz on Sunday lunchtimes. Food looks good and reasonably priced.