Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Pub Of The Month - 2024 with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Candlelight Inn, Chard
Bishopswood
Postal town: Chard
TA20 3RS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about Candlelight Inn
An attractive looking pub in this slightly out of the way location, there is a good amount of outside seating on picnic benches at the front in what was presumably at one time a car park. It seemed a bit of a struggle to get in though, with the first two doors we tried both locked but we eventually located one on the far end that was open. First impressions weren’t great with a “Please wait here to be seated” lectern just inside the doorway, and no sign of anyone to come and seat you. We approached the bar and got served with no issue, but it does indicate that this is very much a food led pub, and indeed the vast majority of the tables were laid up for diners, leaving only a few arm-chairs in the window for drinkers.
It looks as though it has recently been refurbished, and is quite an impressive mix of traditional and contemporary with quite an upmarket feel to it. The flooring was some sort of dark wood strip, whilst sanded oak beams and joists in the roof apex and rustic basket weave lamp shades hanging down. Walling was a mixture of Farrow & Ball shades of green and some unusual metal tiled cladding. A small brick fireplace with a wood burning stove was off to one side, and there were a few candles on the mantlepiece above with a wicker basket and a pot plant on either side. Elsewhere it’s perhaps a little more traditional with much exposed stone walling and black beams on the ceiling, as well as further fireplaces in most of the rooms. You just can’t get away from the fact that with cutlery and wine glasses on all the tables, it just doesn’t feel like a proper pub.
Surprisingly given it’s gastro pretensions, beer was dispensed from jacketed barrels racked up on stillage behind the bar, so perhaps they do take their beer more seriously than might be expected. Although there were four barrels lined up, the chalkboard on the bar listed just Otter Bitter and Brakspear as the available options. Perhaps the others were settling. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold and Sandford Orchard’s Devon Red. Overall, I quite liked it here and they’ve clearly spent a lot of money on the refurbishment, but it just felt a little too food focused for me. I’d happily pop in again to eat, but probably wouldn’t bother just for a drink.
On 3rd October 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1951 recommendations about 1864 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about Candlelight Inn
A 17th Century village pub which has been substantially renovated inside and out. There is a small parking area at the front and an overflow carpark in a field at the back. The garden seems to be a work in progress – brick barbecue stands are currently set on a building-site-like area of temporary hard standing, though there are some well-established plants around – the location means it’s likely to be spectacular in Summer. The interior has been knocked through to form a long open-plan area, mainly laid to table, with a drinking area by the bar counter in the middle. Of note is the large, unusual fireplace, open on 2 sides, with a unique brick focus. The flooring is tiles; when we entered we thought it had a large shaggy rug, but this turned out to be a collection of shaggy dogs lying together in the middle of the bar. The staff were quite friendly, the locals civilised. Food is freshly cooked, mainly from local ingredients. There were 3 ales on: Otter, Gun Dog and 61 Deep, plus one cider. The ales were in excellent condition, justifying the GBG18 entry. I’d be very happy to come here to eat and drink anytime, and I’ll make a point of coming back for their beer festival on 25 – 27 May 18. It’s on the 2018 Somerset Ale Trail.
On 12th April 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3290 recommendations about 3255 pubs]