We’re so lucky here at Malherbie Group Stays. Our local area is a great place to live and to spend your large group holidays in Somerset. The beaches on the Jurassic Coast are within 30 minutes’ drive, there are countless attractions to visit, and just two miles down the road is the lovely little town of Ilminster. There are also fantastic places to eat; join us on a delve into our favourite country pubs and restaurants for delicious food, good atmosphere and brilliant service.
It’s always good to know the best places to eat near your holiday house in Somerset. Within an easy drive from Ilminster and our luxury large group accommodation there are gorgeous country pubs and restaurants where the welcome is warm, and the food is tastebud tantalising – take it from us, we go to them all on a regular basis! Here’s our quick round up of 5 of the best, so let’s go!
The Barrington Boar
This award-winning restaurant and pub is high on our list of places to eat, in the pretty village of Barrington, just 3 miles north of Ilminster. The head chef grew up in the area and has worked in Michelin starred restaurants, so you know it’s going to be good. Sup local ales, craft ciders and gin, and English sparkling wines, dine from a carefully created menu of refined modern dining that celebrates the best of local produce. We had a peek at the sample Evening Menu and picked out:
Roast loin & glazed shoulder of Somerset lamb with a sauté of peas, lettuce & lamb bacon, fondant potato & jus
Seared fillet of sea bream served with St Austell Bay mussel beurre blanc, asparagus& herb crushed new potatoes
Charcoal grilled sirloin of 40 -day dry aged Devon Red beef served with grilled broccoli, chimichurri, crisp potato hash brown loaded with sticky braised beef, & a red wine & roasting juices sauce
Worth noting is that upstairs there’s a private dining room for 24.
The Lord Poulett Arms
On the main street in the quintessential village of Hinton St George, this thatched country pub is only a few miles away and is a firm local favourite. The menu keeps pace with the changing seasons championing all that’s great and good in the local area. Choose from pub classics or creative mains – on the recent sample menu are:
Cider battered haddock, chips, crushed peas & tartar sauce
Faccombe Estate venison haunch, Jerusalem artichoke & pickled rhubarb
Brixham sea bream, asparagus, mussels & dill sauce
There are several interconnected dining spaces that can accommodate groups with plenty of notice.
The Candlelight Inn
Tucked away in the sleep village of Bishopswood on the Blackdown Hills, this is a proper country pub with several cosy nooks. We love it here! The menu of hearty British pub classics, daily specials and fresh seafood makes the best of what’s available locally. If you favour pub food you should try the Candlelight burger, otherwise, at the time of writing, there are mains on the dinner menu to tempt you:
Wild garlic gnocchi, spring greens, lemon & hazelnut dressing, crispy cavolo, parmesan
Roasted pork belly, chorizo cassoulet, winter greens, mustard aioli
Pan seared sea bass fillets, crushed new potatoes, lemon & caper velouté, charred tenderstem
Larger groups can dine in interconnected dining spaces, or you can book the refurbished skittle alley and have it all to yourselves.
Holm
This contemporary restaurant in South Petherton is a relatively new favourite of ours, inspired by nature and the beautiful West Country landscape. The hospitality is riding high, as are provenance and sustainability, the setting is casual yet refined. Local suppliers provide ingredients for dishes that will have your tastebuds dancing with delight. On the sample A La Carte Menu when we checked are:
Cod loin, asparagus, seaweed and beurre blanc
Hogget, spouting broccoli and Ceasar emulsion
English rose veal sirloin with peppercorn sauce
On the first floor there’s a studio space that seats 20, or you can book exclusive hire of the whole restaurant.
The Five Dials
On the main road in the village of Horton, 3 miles west of Ilminster, we’ve been going to the Five Dials for years. We love that it’s so relaxed and strikes just the right balance between locals and visitors. They work with top local producers to showcase the fabulous bounty of what’s sown and grown, raised and grazed in the area. The menu is one of modern seasonal dishes and pub favourites, so it’s updated regularly and currently shows:
Rump of lamb, layered ratatouille, garlic pavé potato, black olive & tomato jus, and basil oil
Soy glazed market fish, chargrilled seasonal greens & sea herbs, pickled fennel, toasted sesame seeds, roasted cauliflower purée, citrus & herb sauce
Steak & Otter Black pie, Colcannon mashed potato, seasonal vegetables & gravy
We did a quick search that confirms they can accommodate groups for dining, so take your pick.
Just One More…
And if we might slip in another one, we must mention our very friendly local, The New Inn at Dowlish Wake, within walking distance of our big and beautiful holiday houses. Go for sandwiches, baguettes or jacket potatoes at lunchtime, or in the evening for good home cooked pub food. Tuck into the likes of:
Beef lasagne, garlic bread and salad
Stilton & bacon chicken breast, new potatoes & veg
Mushroom Stroganoff with rice
They have room for large groups in the main dining space, or there’s a private dining room that seats16.
And the Rest…
All do a cracking Sunday roast, most are family friendly and dogs are welcome, though not necessarily in all areas.
There’s no denying that good food and good company in a relaxed setting is one of the best things in life, and if you don’t have to wash up and clear away, even better. So go for it, eat out-out, fill your bellies, enjoy!