Bowlish House in Mendip

Bowlish House is an absolutely beguiling country house hotel nestled in a quiet corner of Somerset. It is filled with art, light, and warm family-friendly vibes. If you are looking for the true country house experience in Somerset I can’t recommend Bowlish House enough!

The room was nothing like the pictures, when I told the lady at reception that this was the case , she accused me of being racist and her partner chased me out the hotel screaming abusive language at me and that I should leave ! I was beyond shocked as I didn't mention anything about anyone's skin colour , my comment was about the room . Furthermore they chased us to our car . We left in shock and left .

Rooms needed renovation. The staff seems a bit inexperienced. Breakfast was OK. Overall it has potential but it needs a bit more work. Definetely not what you would expect from a 4 star hotel.

Nicola was a fantastic host, very attentive and extremely welcoming, especially to our dog Dougal. We really enjoyed our stay at Bowlish House, most of all the decor, breakfast and lovely family that live there. Definitely worth a visit.

A friend and I spent a fab night at the gorgeous Bowlish House Hotel. Nicola has not only decorated the hotel beautifully but is a natural host who made us feel super welcome and at home. Rooms are gorgeous, bed comfy and the breakfast delicious. Thankyou for a great stay!

I recently stayed here for two nights during Glastonbury festival, and it was delightful! My room was lovely with stunning decor, along with the rest of the house, that made me feel like I was stepping back in time. The full English breakfast was absolutely delicious, and Nicola, the host, was incredibly welcoming and couldn’t do enough for me. I'll definitely be booking again when I'm in the area. I would highly recommend Bowlers House for a delightful stay! Rhia x

Amazing host and beautiful room. Loved my stay there. Thank you

Our stay at bowlish house was like going back in time,a lovely large old house but with all the luxuries of a modern hotel.Tastefully decorated,lovely comfy bed with clean crisp sheets along with a lovely hot rain shower and a very clean room.on arrival we were greated by our excellent friendly host nicola who offered us a lovely afternoon tea with home made scones which were delicious.our host nicola could not do enough for us to make our stay as comfortable as possible and woke up to a lovely full English breakfast. All in all a wonderful place to stay and would rate our stay 10/10👍

The owners were really welcoming and the breakfast was excellent. I loved the artwork dotted around and the whole feel of the place. I'd definitely stay again.

Actually visited some friends staying and was treated like royalty... Some of the most likable and welcoming hosts you can imagine and even saved our lives by arranging transport to ourfestival. Sending much love from P. T. And co.

Absolutely lovely stay at Bowlish House. Nicola and Nick are fantastic hosts. Breakfast was ace and a lovely afternoon tea too. The rooms are beautiful and the house is very impressive. Dog friendly as well. Thanks so much for a wonderful stay.

an amazing experience, with a great reception and lovely people. Cozy garden, amazing rooms and bathrooms

An absolute gem! Highlight of our Somerset trip! Warm, homely and fascinating house, with perfect hosts. Superb breakfast, large and delicious. ( lots of gluten free options) Beautiful rooms and super comfy beds. Thankyou Nicola and Nick. Cant wait to come back!

Beautifully classic B&B with loads of character. Very personal experience with amazing breakfast. Thanks to all the staff for looking after us.

Fantastic find! Such a great place to stay, everyone super helpful! We'll come back very soon.

Incredible stay. Perfect for a countryside escapade! Highly recommend

Great place to stay, very clean with nice personal touches. Run by a friendly couple. Would highly recommend.

Lovely property, just tonnes of character. Owners are a lot of fun! Defo heading back soon.

Bowlish House, Shepton Mallet. Is a great place to stay. We were met by Audrey on reception who showed us around and to our rooms. The proprietors were really welcoming and couldn’t do enough to make our stay as comfortable as possible. Our rooms were clean and unique with their creaky floorboards. Breakfast is served in the Orangery and the menu is extensive and cooked superbly nothing is too much trouble.

Lovely helpful owner. Still a work in progress but getting there. Wish them both well.

New owners who don't answer emails etc!

Gorgeous building beautifully renovated fantastic owner Dee!! A MUST STAY, highly recommend a visit!!!!!!

So much potential, and such a grand opening awaits, there's a few more technical difficulties to iron out, as it's had a much needed makeover, and delays can be expected, given the age of the property, and it's limited upkeep in the past. All the best to the new brave owner, manager. and staff.

Excellent service by all the staff given social distancing situation. Always a pleasure to eat there.

Lovely old building with lots of character and service and food was excellent.

Visited for afternoon tea. Good choice of sandwiches and cakes. Staff friendly and welcoming. Limited parking outside of house. Extra parking on opposite side of road.

Went to a wedding there, what a fantastic day and cracking good evening, we drank most spirits dry in the bar

A lovely old house converted into a hotel. Great food & very friendly staff ( we attended a family wedding there)

I visited for Sunday Lunch. It was so yummy, portion sizes generous, staff so friendly and reasonably priced! thank you.

Fantastic - nothing more to say.

Lovely place plus food & service to customers. 🤗🏡

Had a great day out with HHA at Westcombe Dairy, Bowlish House Hotel and Bowlish House. Very interesting and good food.

Lovely building made very welcome by owner breakfast good quality would definitely stay again .

Lovely hotel with friendly staff. Nice size rooms for a family and includes a delicious breakfast. 30 mins from longleat safari so quite well placed.

I was recently here for a birthday meal for a friend who is coeliac. He himself booked it over the phone with the owner who assured him he would be well looked after. Also as he had been before and really enjoyed the meal after Christmas, when it was very quiet, he was confident it would be a special meal and he would be well catered for. It was stated when booking that the meal would be a birthday meal for someone who is coeliac, so we were expecting that he would get well looked after and an effort would be made to make it special. Unfortunately, this did not happen and based on his previous experience it was disappointing. For example the main course he chose was chicken in a creamy mushroom sauce but the chef just served a gluten free gravy instead - certainly nothing special. Surely any chef could make a gluten free creamy mushroom sauce using corn flour without any detrimental effect on flavour, and use this as the default. Also, following our enquiry we were told the cauliflower cheese served with the main courses as part of the accompanying vegetables was also not gluten free. Again, it is so easy to make this gluten free with corn flower without any detrimental effect on flavour. I left feeling disappointed that he had been treated differently from the rest of us regarding the standard of his main meal simply because he happens to be coeliac. Since writing this review the owner responded in a very negative way to an email my friend had sent expressing these concerns. Had the owner responded positively I would have not left this review as it would have shown an attempt to put things right and to show some respect and understanding for the issues he raised.

Having previously been to this restaurant we decided to book a special birthday meal on Sunday 31st March. As two of us are coeliac and two vegetarians I, when speaking with the owner, said that if he was too busy to cope with special diets we would not go ahead with the booking but he assured me that there would be no problem. We booked the meal for 1p.m. and were kept waiting in the lounge for almost an hour before going into the dining room. The owner's reaction to this is that we had booked for 12.30p.m. and the delay was due to our lateness - this is not factually correct. When booking the owner made no mention that due to it being Mothers Day the price would be higher, i.e. £24 plus rather than £21.20. His response to this is that it was on the website but when we looked up the Sunday lunch menu there was no mention of it being a special price on that day. He also justifies the charge by saying he couldn't operate two menus on that day. The interesting thing here is that the 'Mothers Day' menu was almost identical to the normal Sunday lunch menu. My main concern was my meal and it is this I base the food comments on. As a coeliac I asked if the chicken with creamy mushroom sauce was okay. I was told that a substitute sauce would be used but it would still be very nice. When my meal arrived it was not served with a special sauce or should I say that the 'special' sauce was a very small amount of gravy. The meal consisted of a piece of chicken, three roast potatoes and some basic vegetables. Cauliflower cheese was placed in a bowl by me but after inquiring as to whether it was gluten free I was told it was not. It was evident that for my main meal no real effort had been made to ensure that, as someone who through no fault of their own is coeliac, receives the same standard of meal as everyone else. I had also told the owner that it was a birthday meal but again no gesture was made to recognise this; his response was "did you expect me to make you a cake" which obviously we did not. Before writing a review I felt it only fair to share my concerns with the owner in the hope that his comments would show some understanding and respect for my concerns. His response simply dismissed all the points I raised and contained factually incorrect comments including saying that the delay was our fault as the booking was for 12.30p.m. and not 1p.m. which was not the case. We were a family group of six who are neither 'loud' or 'rude' but the owner turned our genuine complaint into a personal attack on myself saying two regular customers said I was 'loud and obnoxious' which I can assure you I was not. Below is a copy of the letter I sent in response to his factually incorrect and rather rude email. My main message is if you are a coeliac I would suggest your meal may be compromised rather than made specially for you and certainly going when the restaurant is busy may not be a good idea. Here is my response to the owner: Thank you for your email. First of all I must point out that our booking was for 1p.m. and not 12.30p.m. and all of our party arrived by 1p.m. and we were kept waiting for almost one hour before going into the dining room, which is really unacceptable. If you had noted 12.30p.m. it was your mistake not ours. When we spoke about the booking it would not be unreasonable to have expected you to say that it wasn’t going to be a normal lunch on that Sunday and the at the price was higher. You say you weren’t able to operate two menus but on checking your menu on the web site there was very little difference in choices on the ‘Mothers Day’ menu. We all, particularly take objection to your comment about one of us being ‘loud and obnoxious’; I assume now that I have complained you are suggesting that I am that person. We, as a group were certainly not loud and unlike some, we respect other people’s space and privacy. This comment perhaps says something about how you deal with justified complaints. I feel an apology is required for this unjustifiable comment. If you read my email correctly you will have noted that my main complaint was about my main meal. I have a photograph of the meal and I am sure that no one seeing it would describe it as being a special meal; it was a basic piece of chicken, with three roast and some vegetables with very little gravy until I asked for more saying the meal was vey dry. I was not told that the mushroom sauce would be replaced by gravy; the server said a substitute SAUCE would be made – a small amount of gravy is not a special sauce. You say I should have called in advance; I made it very clear to you when booking of our dietary requirements. Regarding my birthday no one was expecting you to make a cake but I’m sure you are well aware that most establishments do make some small gesture. You say you were cooking for 50 people; I clearly said when booking if you were already too busy that we wouldn’t come and you assured me that there would be no problem. I would also like to correct you in saying that most restaurants make an extra charge for GF products; I think I am in a position to be more informed than yourself on this. Yes, I do find your response to be totally inadequate which as well as being factually incorrect showed no understanding or respect for a customer’s genuine complaint. In view of your most negative response I will ensure others are made aware of our experience leaving them to reach their own conclusions. Regards,

We had my Mum's wake at Bowlish House, and it was perfect. The ambience, setting and attention to detail were spot-on. The rooms we used were beautiful and furniture, antiques and decor added to the sophistication. The tea and coffee kept coming for top-ups and the buffet lunch was plentiful and superb. The bar staying open for us afterwards was an added bonus. Thank you Bowlish House for making the day perfect, we couldn't have asked for more.

Dinner on a wet windy night. Lovely reception by the owners and we enjoyed drinks in the drawing room. The meal was very good and generous portions. Somewhat quirky and traditional at the same time but we like that. Pretty empty dining room which is not as comfortable as the rest of the building. Reasonably priced wine list. We will certainly return.

proprietario gentilissimo, struttura ben curata e pulita, molto spaziosa. noi avevamo una tripla all'ultimo piano bella grande così come anche il bagno. colazione buona e abbondante

Top notch food and nice service in this old building, full of character

A truly beautiful evening meal. Goats cheese and caramelised onion puff pastry tart followed by duck confit - gorgeous! Even shared a pudding which I rarely touch because I knew it would be good and it was delightful. It was a tad disappointing that our favourite wine (Sancerre) though listed was not available and we ended up spending £6 more for chablis which wasn't all that great to be honest. But overall one of the best meals we have eaten in some time .

Visited wells cathedral,stayed at bowlish house for one night , greeted by a friendly Gentleman who also helped take our bags to our room on top floor , gave me directions to wells , nice room at the top of building , clean room , shower in bathroom, also a hairdryer and mini fridge , tv , nice building with plenty of character , greeted by a nice gentleman for breakfast, good service from a young waiter , plenty to choose from the breakfast menu , would recommend staying here 👍, WiFi not great though, TALK TALK , I feel your pain, my old provider ☹️, ample car parking across the road in they’re own car park .

Wonderful quaint old house full of character. Staff couldn't do enough for you. Delicious food. Very enjoyable stay.

Una tipica casa vittoriana inglese. Colazione inglese eccellente. Cene un po' costose ma deliziose, staff eccellente, sembra proprio di essere un conte inglese.

Lovely old building and garden. Fantastic food and really nice friendly staff.

Charming guest house with lovely rooms, friendly owners and staff and great breakfast!

Great break away, quiet and friendly atmosphere

Stayed for 5 days, a beautiful place, lovely friendly people,lovely rooms,excellent food I can't praise it enough x

Very enjoyable afternoon with my family celebrating a Birthday. Food was excellent as was the wine and the staff were very attentive.

Really good food, service and atmosphere!

Christmas menu with friends. First visit. Limited parking on site. Very nice property with ‘living fire’ in reception room and small bar. Good sized restaurant. I had turkey as main with various vegetables with cheesecake with berries as dessert £24.95 for 2 courses. The main was in my view average but I was disappointed with the cheesecake. The biscuit base was soggy and the filling tepid. Service was a little slow on this course too. The room itself although pleasant was cool as the one of 2 radiators nearest the table was only barely on whilst the one nearest the door was much warmer. I do not live local but know of the venue and was a little disappointed and had expected overall better.

My favourite place to go for special occasions, family events or quiet meals for 2. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff are attentive without being pushy and the food is delicious.

We booked this hotel as we were visiting locally. We booked a double room and it was very comfortable and clean. We had a lovely en suite with great hot shower which was good. The hospitality was really welcoming and friendly, with the owner wanting to help us in any way needed. Breakfast was excellent with lots of choices, all set in a lovely setting overlooking the garden. Beautiful period house hotel with all the features you'd expect, including creaking floorboards.

Have been to Bowlish House on a couple of occasions. It's dining at its best, lovely food. Limited tables so would reccomend booking in advance.

Me and my parents spent one great night here. The beds are really confortable, everything clean and details like a torch on the nightstand in case you need it in the middle of the night!

Very nice grand house with big rooms. Decor throughout excellent and lovely breakfast.

We only stayed a night but absolutely loved it. We were made to feel welcome when we arrived and the room was fantastic. Yes, the floorboards are a bit creaky and the doors are interesting shapes but this is part of the charm and character of a building like this. We felt completely relaxed there. Breakfast was lovely with the homemade bread. If you want some old fashioned charm in a location that's convenient for places like Wells and Glastonbury then this is certainly a place to try.

Comfortable, well priced good service

Bello, accogliente, ottimo cibo

Bowlish House is a fantastic wedding venue. We had out wedding there in December and they really went out of their way to provide the best possible service and made the day truly tailored to us. The food was amazing, even though they were serving 80 guests the food was just as good as their Sunday lunch! The accommodation was great, and they worked some magic accommodating our ever changing and complicated requests! We would recommend Bowlish as a wonderful venue for a wedding. Kate and Scott

Charming old house with beautiful garden

We loved the hotel. The owner, Len could not have been more accommodating. The room was excellent, along with a wonderful cooked full English breakfast. Highly recommended.

There is something immediately elevating and yet relaxing when you step across that Georgian threshold into Bowlish House - it is both chic and comfortable at the same time. New Year's Eve last night was a joy! Greeted by polished and friendly staff with champagne (not Prosecco!) and canapes, we eased our way from bar to dining room with the tinkle of a pianist for company. Neither hurried nor tardy, an appetiser of crab bon bons arrived, followed by a quite superb Jerusalem artichoke veloute and home made artisan breads. A cascade of lovely tunes kept pace, as soup became sea bass and other tables laughed and also enjoyed music and ambience. When my cheese platter came I was immersed in the singing - along with all the other guests - completely unexpectedly. This was a transformation from mild formality to complete togetherness. Food and atmosphere were on point, as we counted down to New Year. The moment was crowned with a fireworks display that would have been lavish in a small city! Everything was perfect - the service, food, aesthetics, and surprising camaraderie achieved between all the guests. This is something I will definitely do again - and expect the unexpected! Lovely start to a new year!

Our company recently booked Bowlish House for our staff Christmas party. We had a really lovely day which began with welcome drinks upon arrival, where we were shown through to a stylishly decorated and comfortable bar area. Christmas decoration was tastefully done throughout the house. The dining room was also comfortable and easily accommodated everyone whilst maintaining a warm and relaxed ambiance. The food itself was excellent, with a wide range of menu options available. The starters in particular stood out as being very nicely done. In addition, the staff members were friendly and attentive, always on hand to check if everything was running smoothly. Overall a really enjoyable afternoon spent at Bowlish House.

Lovely small hotel, friendly staff and good food. Beautifully decorated for Christmas. Makes a nice change from a chain hotel.

Nos alojamos sólo una noche y no regresaría. Muy ruidoso durante la noche, cada tabla del suelo y puerta chirriaba, tuberías, etc. se tiraba y muy ruidoso y la cama muy dura, pero la pieza de resistencia fue el tiempo que tomó para servir el desayuno. Los pedidos fueron tomadas a las 9 de la mañana, pero no sirven tostadas suficiente todas las personas en la mesa. Se sirve té y café en el desayuno, pero todos eran de piedra tiempo llegó fría. Mi marido estaba servido su desayuno a las 9:15 y el mío llegó finalmente a las 10:20, por él el tiempo me lo había comido, era casi la hora del almuerzo, servicio y absolutamente chocante el propietario no como cuando se lo dijimos. Nos dijeron que el desayuno era de 7:30 a 09:00 h, nos llenábamos el coche a las 8 de la mañana esperando ser servido el desayuno y llegar a la carretera bastante temprano.

A very good choice for excellent food, especially if you are staying at this hotel. The wines were also good but expensive.

When arriving you made to sit it what can only be described as a old persons front room now this may be to others taste but not mine! You have a bar let people use it! After waiting 20min with out a drink we where shown to our table we both ordered steak when this was brought to the table pretty much as soon as we sat down it was tasted of oil and was very under cooked my partner asked for med rare now I understand it's hard to get it completely cooked to this due to cuts of meat but not once were we offered any compensation and was left very disappointed when leaving

Friendly staff, clean nice rooms what more do you want! I'd totally recommend and would happily stay there again. The bathroom was spotless clean. The bed was comfortable. Breakfast was yummy and still served us even though I was a little late.

Full of character b&b, the family room was quite warm and I think could be unbearable in a hot day, a small window and fan might help a little. Beds were good quality and the breakfast very nice, we missed the warm welcome that we typically get at most b&bs.

Stayed for an overnight stop after visiting Longleat in Wiltshire. Booked for evening dinner and B&B. The hotel is quaint and charming. It took a while to get hold of someone to check us in but after that, it all went smoothly. Room was a four poster and nicely appointed. View of the garden from the large sash window. Bed very comfortable, room had flat screen TV and nice complimentary tea tray (including bottled water and biscuits). Bathroom nice although it did suffer from very hot running water - even from the cold tap - the toilet even flushed hot water? Dinner was superb, polite and courteous service, excellent quality ingredients and a nice wine list. can't fault at all. Breakfast was also very nicely cooked to order, my only criticism would be for more toast - though I am sure if we had asked we could have had some. Not the cheapest hotel or dinner but still felt it was good value as the quality was so good. Would definitely recommend if you fancy a mini splurge or a change from chain hotels.

We had time to spare in Shepton Mallet and called in to this hotel in the hope we could have coffee. Although we were obviously not going to be around for long, we were given a very hospitable welcome and excellent coffee. A perfect break in the relaxing Georgian drawing room. We are interested in historic houses and the owner took the trouble to tell us the history. He even offered to take us to view the older part of the house but, sadly, we had no time. If we were in Shepton Mallet again, we would have no hesitation in returning to this lovely hotel. .

A group of 8 of us recently had Sunday lunch here. A very enjoyable well cooked meal offering good value for two or three courses. The staff were friendly without being overwhelming and all needs were catered for. The place was very busy on the day of our visit which was great as makes for a good atmosphere. We had drinks on arrival in the small lounge with the bar and then ate in the main dining room. My only minor criticism is the room is very dark as it has a large conservatory on the back of it which stops much of the natural light coming through. I probably would have preferred to eat in the conservatory as it was a lovely sunny day but I do appreciate that we along with another large group were all seated in the main dining room. This obviously freed up the conservatory for smaller groups.

Having not been here before I was a little nervous that I had booked a table for Sunday lunch to celebrate my birthday. I stepped through the door and my doubts disappeared. A warming greeting and we were seated in the very comfortable Georgian Room for drinks and to look at the menu. A choice of two meats, a fish and vegetarian dish. Service was excellent but unpretentious, the food delicious. The vegetables were cooked to perfection and tasted so fresh. The roast potatoes the best I've had in a restaurant in a very long time. Unhurried and enjoyable with coffee in the Georgian Room after. We even met Ellie the Collie who was very friendly. Loved it. We'll be back!

Had a wonderful meal on the 19 March. Tasty, well cooked and presented. The staff and owners were courteous and welcoming. Would recommend for that special occassion !!My husband and I has Chicken Parfait followed by braised beef slowly cooked. The vegetables were absolutely cooked to perfection. The flavours were to be remembered.My sister has the soup (Leek & Potato Vichyssoise (full of flavour and delicious) followed by the risotto - very tasty.Will be become one of our favourite places to go.

Two generations of Mums had tea at Bowlish House this weekend and they did us proud. Pre booked but the only ones there and so we were given a fireside coffee table laden with the most amazing food. It was like being in our own front room but with the addition of lovely attentive people who could not do more for us. Bowlish House never fails to step up and give excellent service, wonderful food and amazing atmosphere !

We had afternoon tea here this afternoon - we were lucky as we had tea in the sitting room next to the toaring fire. Very cosy and welcoming. The food was fabulous, all homemade and so generous with the amount! We even had a doggy bad for the cakes we couldn't manage! Very attentive service and great value at £16.50 per head. Highly recommend and will definitely be back.

Everything about the place was superb great food wonderful service and a great atmosphere all in all brilliant

We booked the restaurant for a family get-together lunch. There were 16 adults, 3 young children and a baby , and I have to say the staff were absolutely brilliant. My young nieces are very curious and wanted to explore everywhere, and we were made to feel very much at home. The food is very good, with generous portions, but the vegetarian menu is very limited. Having said that, we all had a really good time, and are looking forward to going back for my sister's birthday in a few months.

Took 2 hungry teenagers here for Sunday lunch. It's a small menu - only 4 choices for each of the 3 courses - but that's good, as everything was cooked perfectly & the chef clearly knew what he was doing. Within the small number of choices was an intelligent range - pork, chicken, fish or vegetarian for the mains - and there were vast quantities of good, perfectly-cooked vegetables on the side, excellent crisp roast potatoes and delicious sauces. Value was good and the service was prompt, efficient & the staff were friendly & delightful.

Dont stay there (unless you like the smell of raw sewage)But if you do make sure you eat in the hotels restaurant as its the only thing they seem to have got correct.

We just enjoyed a lovely New Year's Eve dinner at Bowlish House - the second we have had there. As locals we were looking for a relaxed, happy evening we could walk to and enjoy a glass with impunity. Thus on a vile, rainy night we were greeted by smiling staff and champagne, ushered to the bar from Broadchurch, and cosseted for the whole evening. Dinner was an elegant affair of (for me) parfait and monkfish and, for my family, excellent West Country Beef cooked rare to their perfection. A pianist had me very quietly singing Cole Porter songs and smiling my way to midnight. Excellent fireworks announced 2016, and a hug from the owners made me feel like a friend there. This is the second wonderful dining experience I have had at Bowlish House in the last couple of months - not inexpensive, but a genuine treat. Staff were outstanding.

My husband and I went to Bowlish house for a Sunday lunch. This special place makes you feel special!As you come in you are invited to go to the lounge or the bar to have a look at the menu and have a drink in the meantime. We chose the bar, i love this room and the décor.After our drink we went to the former conservatory room, another a beautiful room.The food and service were brilliant. Definitely a place to return to.

Wonderful food ate three courses which I never do anywhere else. Everything was perfectly cooked and very tasty

All positive except the loud creaky floors but with a home 300 years old you have to expect that. The room was comfortable with plush towels and bed linens and very comfy beds. Nice parlor and lounge room. Lots of space to visit and stay up late. Wifi only worked downstairs not in our room. The dinner was wonderful. Seared tuna, with many side surprises like quail eggs, veggies, potatoes. Elegant food. High quality. Homemade food. Local ingredients. Top chef.

We had a wonderful time.Impeccable service and friendly through out.Food was of a high standard and 1st class,Beyond our expectations.Lovely Hotel and gardensWould highly recommend it.

A very nice hotel, spacious rooms, with very friendly staff.I look forward to staying again sometime in the future.

Came for Sunday lunch we have been a few times this year.what a disappointment this time, we had barely placed our order and were then taken to the dining room no toast with our starter we had to go looking for staff to get some. Not offered a wine list when we finished our starter we waited ages for our main to arrive, why tush us in so quickly if the rest of the food was not ready. Gave up waiting for the dessert menu and it seemed too much effort for the lady serving who kept huffing what a shame.

Everytime I come to Bowlish House me and my friends are enjoying a meal at the restaurant and the food is always great.

Absolute world class service and food where had at The Bowlish House Restaurant on Valentines evening. My wife and I were greeted with a warm welcome at the entrance to this grand house by a staff member who then continued to pour us both a welcome glass of champagne. The atmosphere was wonderful as the romantic music piped throughout the house. The two adjoining rooms already had guests in waiting to be called to their table, there was definitely romance in the air. The house itself really lends itself in the setting of grandeur and grace and it wasn't too long before we were called to our dinner table.What followed in the form of service, hospitality and food is really quite difficult to sum up and I can only describe or at least rate them in one simple word - 'EPIC' Locally there isn't any venue or establishment which can come anywhere near the offerings of Bowlish House, it's almost like Somerset's big secret! My wife and I will be continuing our visits to Bowlish House on a regular basis including special occasions.To Len, Martin and the team at Bowlish House, 'Thank you so much!' So much for making our visits so special and for the care and attention you show all of your guests.

What an exceptional night New Years Eve was at Bowlish House. The atmosphere was perfect; the food was to die for and the hosting was pure perfection. We have never had a night like this. We could not have asked for better. Every need was met and the staff were attentive, courteous and a real asset to the Hotel. Martin and Len are hosts that deserve so much credit – they have turned Bowlish House into a welcoming Hotel, full of warmth, smiles and offerings of first class food and hospitality. Everything was presented so meticulously from the Hotel itself to the food and even the table settings. Such attention to detail deserves recognition. Thank you to all at Bowlish House who made the night so extraordinarily memorable.

It was rather like being in a ghost restaurant. One waitress - who did a good job. Otherwise, eerily empty of people and ambience. It may have only been lunch, but it was just us - and someone we assume was the owner who sat behind a computer; made no effort to engage or talk and who didn't have the courtesy to even help us on with our coats - which I had to ask for - when we left. So sad when the reception room was lovely and welcoming, the food was fine, not exceptional,but fine and the venue has such potential.We were guests and when we arrived thought the potential was there for a lovely occasion. We won't hurry back which is a shame when the area has little competition in the category. As my school report sometimes said ' could do - SO much better!

Having heard what a good time friends had had on New Years Eve I thought we would go and celebrate my husband's birthday with friends.The waitress was friendly and looked after us well but we were the only people there, it just would have made a difference if we had had a more friendly welcome from the senior management.A lovely setting and as we are local would like to go again.

We had our office Christmas lunch here yesterday.The table was rather small for the number of people sat at it and we felt a bit like sardines in a tin which wasn't the best beginning.The price of drinks was also over the top at £5.00 for a pint of lager.The food was good - tasty and well presented.The service was poor. Youngsters who had not been trained in how to serve or clear which was a downer considering the quality of the food and the prices charged.Spend some time and train your waitrons in service etiquette and you would deserve a higher rating.If it is just the food that you are interested in go for it - you will be happy.

We recently enjoyed a Saturday Evening with Bowlish House for Dinner four of us and it was warm very intimate and rather nice and the food was very good. The Service we had was excellent indeed faultless but simply not enough of it and pouring your own wine at this location seems out of place. One cannot doubt that if you went and sought service you definitely got it but it is the needing to go get it and the lack of it wrapping you up and pleasing you that seemed at odds with our experience at Bowlish House but a very fine place it is and fine dining was experienced with very welcoming hospitality.

We booked a table for 4 on a Sunday just expecting a nice sunday lunch, and what we got was a superb meal with Excellent surroundings and staff.The food was the best i have had in a long time and great value for money.The house it self is so relaxing we all enjoyed the atmosphere, and we will all be returning (hopefully very soon) :)

We held the funeral reception here for my fathers funeral. Everything was perfect. On arrival everything was set up beautifully with candles on the tables and the rooms looking welcoming and comfortable.The food was beautiful and plentiful, the tea and coffee free flowing. Nothing was too much trouble and we did not have to worry about anything. The owner really looked after us all and made sure my mum sat down and had something to eat and drink once all the guests had left. I can not recommend enough, this is somewhere that really knows what their customers want and need and does their best to deliver.

I live local to Bowlish house and the current owners are fantastic. The food is imaginative, finely presented, really tasty and a decent size for fine dining - really fills you up, especially their homemade bread which is different each time I visit. Their homemade terrines and pates are delicious, never plain- accompanied by homemade chutneys or piccalilli , parsnip purée, crispy bacon, micro veg and herbs etc..... Really well balanced (see photos I took) , I recently enjoyed their haddock on lemon mash surrounded by sweetcorn chowder sauce, turned veg, topped with a perfect poached egg (see photo). Duck dishes delicious too!If you have room for dessert they are elegant and tasty too!!I feel comfortable eating there alone as the host Martin is so welcoming and friendly, and very knowledgable about food and wine. (If you are there later in the evening having coffee in the lounge their gorgeous rough collie may grace you with its presence too) I also now love to take family and friends out to show them how delicious the food is.The emphasis on flavour and presentation is apparent, and the atmosphere and food brings me back again and again. When I want to treat myself, I go for a meal at Bowlish now.

We had a lovely meal today at Bowlish House. It was oldee Worldee, in a good way. Nice and comfortable and cosy, small and very well run, with very good food and service. I had the salmon and prawn starter and they provided me with gluten free bread (which is all a bit of a bonus) and my husband had the asparagus soup, with home-made granary bread. We both had the pork main course and my husband had the cheese board and a glass of port, which all went down very well. Everything was absolutely fabulous. We will definitely be back soon! The weather was kin,d in that we got in and out without being rained on, but we will look forward to sitting in the garden, in future, as it looks lovely!

Staying 100 yards from Bowlish House, meant we had to visit this elegant house, it was calling us in so a table was phone booked, on arriving we where met by the owners then shown into a lovely room where we took drinks, then the menu, when we where ready to our table, the food was excellent, we had ample food I was amazed at the value, all i can add is check it out, fantastic the whole experience............