Holcombe Inn

Good Pub Guide Recommended

Charming inn with cosy bars, a wide choice of drinks and good food; lovely bedrooms

Our readers enjoy their visits to this well run, friendly inn, often choosing to stay overnight in the well equipped bedrooms (which have views over peaceful farmland to Downside Abbey school). To the right of the main entrance is a cosy room with sofas around a central table and an open woodburning stove. To the left is the bar: fine old flagstones, window seats and chunky captain's chairs around pine-topped tables, and a carved wooden counter where they serve Bath Gem, Butcombe Original and Otter Ale on handpump, 21 wines and champagne by the glass, 25 malt whiskies, cocktails and a thoughtful choice of local drinks (cider, vodka, sloe gin, various juices); board games and background music. A two-way woodburning stove also warms the dining room, which is partly carpeted and partly flagstoned and has partitioning creating snug seating areas, and a mix of high-backed patterned or leather and brass-studded dining chairs around all sorts of tables; daily newspapers. Just off here is a little sitting area serving specialist teas and coffees. Picnic-sets on a terrace and side lawn make the most of the stunning sunsets. Dogs are welcome everywhere (except the restaurant) and in two of the lodges by prior arrangement. Disabled access.

Bar food times: 12-2.30, 6-9; 12-9 Sat, Sun

Enjoyable food includes grilled quail with onion purée, diced celeriac, caramelised apple and meat juices, salt pork and pistachio terrine with spiced oranges, buckwheat pancakes filled with mushrooms and spinach with béchamel sauce, home-cooked honey-roast ham and eggs, braised local lamb shoulder with peas, bacon, lettuce and mint, venison steak with fondant potato, wild mushrooms and red wine sauce, cod with ratte potatoes, spinach, beetroot and horseradish purée and orange and chardonnay beurre blanc, and puddings such as coffee crème caramel with praline and ginger pudding with marmalade ice-cream.