The Old House At Home

We had a delicious Sunday roast and the service was spot on. The pub felt cosy and welcoming, and it’s dog friendly too. It was our first visit, and we enjoyed the scenic drive, then a little wander through the lovely village and its farm shop. We’ll definitely come back.

The room felt lovely and cosy with a real fire, and I always enjoy coming to The Old House at home for the atmosphere and outstanding food. The meal was beautifully cooked and presented. I was sorry not to see “ Pear Surprise” on the menu, but I still enjoyed the jigsaw sweet. The Chef’s a genius! I returned to The Old House at home yesterday for lunch with friends. One thing did surprise me: four tables hadn’t been cleared while we were eating. On my last visit, staff had been clearing and resetting tables as customers left. I hope to be back soon. Thank you.

After more than six years away, I was disappointed by how much the place has changed. The room had no atmosphere or background music, and the decor, furniture and carpet looked very dated. It didn’t feel like the restaurant I remembered, and the attention to detail seems to have slipped. We waited ages for someone to take our order, then over an hour between starters and mains. Finished plates sat on the table for 15 minutes. Staff seemed happy, but the service lacked something. When we walked in, there were boxes and rubbish on a table by the door. The mains are expensive for what you get. Mine had gold spray and fancy flowers, but the food itself wasn’t anything special. With some mains over £30 plus sides, the service and atmosphere need to feel more premium. I’m not sure what it wants to be now, a pub with food, a fancy country pub, or a restaurant. It used to be a restaurant, but it seems to have lost what made it stand out.

The dinner was the highlight. The food was freshly prepared and exemplary, and the chef is a real credit to the place. Prices are a little higher than at a regular pub, but this isn’t regular pub food. Everyone we met on staff was friendly, and the whole visit felt unhurried, which is rare these days. We’ve eaten at lots of places over the years, and for this kind of establishment, I’d put the food and service in my top three. We stayed for one night with our five-year-old while visiting the Bath Christmas markets, about half an hour away. The place was nicely decorated for Christmas when we arrived in the evening, with the fire going and a cosy feel. One small thing from my stove-fitting OCD: the fan on the stove should be moved to the side, since rear and side placement gives better heat output. Our room was an apartment above the restaurant. It was clean, warm and had everything you’d want, whether you planned to self-cater or eat in the restaurant. Breakfast was freshly made too, and you could tell the ingredients weren’t cheap. The village is ten minutes from the M4. If we need somewhere to stay and eat in the area again, we’d definitely book here.