The Greyhound Inn Taunton

The staff were fantastic, and the food felt worth the price. I stayed a night while in the area and was very pleased with the immaculate, welcoming room. I'll definitely come back sometime.

I've been twice, and both visits involved a problem and staff whose attitude made it worse. On this visit, our order wasn't taken properly, so one person in our group never got a dish. The lad taking it had repeated the item back to me and touched the screen before moving to the next one, yet when I asked why it hadn't arrived he stood at the bar looking smug and insisted they'd done everything right. The garlic bread was just lukewarm buttered bread, not toasted or crisp, and had no garlic in it. When I raised that, the girl serving simply said, “it's garlic bread,” then asked if I wanted the chef to explain it. That came across as rude and arrogant. They also charged £12 for a child's egg and chips, then said they'd charged for ham, egg and chips. I found that unacceptable. The food was average, the service was rubbish, and the pub was overpriced. The staff's attitude and the standard of service and food were shocking.

Sunday lunch with friends was absolutely delicious, especially the roast potatoes, which might be the best I've ever had, with apologies to my late husband. I was impressed by how well the place had been made over recently.

Our room was fresh, carefully maintained and comfortable, with crisp linens and tasteful, sturdy furniture. The bedrooms blend country style with modern comforts, and the whole inn was impeccably clean. We slept quietly, then had a substantial breakfast; the Greyhound eggs on a muffin were the standout, poached just right and nicely put together. Dinner was just as memorable. I had the venison and chorizo burger, juicy and full of flavor, with the chorizo's smoky spice working well against the venison. My wife enjoyed a flavorful nut roast with good texture, and my daughter had a crisp, fresh Caesar salad with balanced dressing. The portions were hearty, and the pub classics felt thoughtfully done. The staff were genuinely warm during our one-night stay, and nothing seemed too much trouble. Inside, it has a cosy feel with beams, fireplaces and little nooks, somewhere between a local boozer and a country inn. We loved the rustic character and the historic stone exterior in the heart of Staple Fitzpaine. The Greyhound Inn made a lovely base for a family meal and an overnight visit, and we left refreshed and keen to return.