Candlelight Inn in South Somerset

We came for my partner's birthday lunch. We had planned to go somewhere else but was fully booked so tried here. It did not disappoint! Genuinely dog friendly which is essential for us. We loved the decor & ambiance, very inviting. The food was perfect. Portions just right and everything was extremely tasty and well presented. Service was also swift and friendly. I wish I had this place on my doorstep, but unfortunately we live far away. Highly recommended :)

Had a fantastic meal last night!. All eight of us couldn’t stop talking about tasty dishes that were beautifully presented. The majority of us had the onglet of beef which was perfectly cooked and melted in our mouths. Others loved the twists on the pub classics. Whilst there was plenty of food to fill our bellies we couldn’t leave until we finished with dessert. Hubby was very happy with the local real ale- a tasty fresh pint that went down very easy. Service was impeccable. Well done team Candle. We will be back.

We were looking for somewhere a bit more special that was also dog friendly, so the Candlelight Inn seemed a good fit. We sat in the "new" section which was simply decorated and they immediately brought over a dog bowl. Service was friendly and warm. What was the stand out from our experience however was the food. It is priced slightly on the more expensive end but worth every penny. I had beetroot for starter, Hertfordshire beef for main and the caramel and pear dessert, every single course was delicious. I would go as far as saying it is the best pub food we have ever had. Highly recommend!

We came here again recently for a long lunch with friends and family. We had a big party and we were accommodated perfectly. Service was friendly and quick- thanks to Lou who had the difficult job of coordinating our table! Food was exquisite - the bao bun was an absolute hit. Even better they had the grand national showing. Another great visit.

Excellent food. A lovely menu. Very good service. Would recommend and we will be visiting again. Very thoughtful decor

Lovely pub, very friendly hosts, good selection of beers, some really good options on the menu and the food was excellent.

Oh wow, what a fabulous place. So tastefully refurbished. The food is excellent, staff friendly and efficient. Great menu - I like the fact that you serve small plates as well as mains. Fresh food cooked to a high standard.

X Adore this place. Everything about it is perfect in my view.

What a wonderful place! Service and atmosphere perfect. X

Absolutely stunning! The food, the staff, the environment. Had a lovely meal, it was the best food my partner and I have had in a long time. The service was friendly and attentive and the bar is simple, yet sophisticated and comfortable. A lovely atmosphere and value for money. Will definitely be returning. Thank you.

Great meal. Love being able to buy any wine by the glass. The service was excellent.

Stunning venue, excellent food, will return again and again

3 mins off the A303 - lovely pub and restaurant with great food, beautifully presented - and dog friendly!

My favorite in the Blackdowns 💕

Best place ever in the Blackdowns… the owners are amazing, place is amazing, staff are amazing in all ways the pub and restaurant are amazing, and the famous sunny car is amazing too, thank you 😊

Absolutely superb. Lovely Saturday dinner date with my wife. We enjoyed a really great meal and the atmosphere was nice too. Not cheap but we really appreciated the quality for the price. I have no negative feedback at all.

This is a shame to write but when you charge £30 for roast beef you have to deliver a good plate of food, yes I know it’s a gastro pub and size/portion can be on the small side at times and that wasn’t the problem in fact I was happy with the amount. The problem is the price for what you get. The beef was very average(I felt over cooked) not a great cut or quality and as for the roast potatoes they didn’t taste good and were very boring. The veg selection was also average, surely this should be an exciting part of this dish? A good veg selection and something different(you are a gastro pub!)Then unfortunately the dinner was covered in very watery average gravy, the chef must of wanted to leave people wondering how they made it so tasty? The front of house is superb and always welcoming and well presented but you can’t charge £30 for that roast dinner, if I’m honest any roast dinner but if it was special you except it but it was far far from that! There are pubs smashing roast dinners local to this for £20/£25 and tasting a lot better. I’ve had roast dinner here many times and this is way way below any of those times. Such a shame.

Good food and excellent service, looks like it had just had a makeover However don't visit if your disabled, one step to get in but worst than that, no disabled toilet. Such a pity yet another establishment who don't care about inclusion of disabled people.

Another excellent meal and great service, thanks you

Always fantastic food and a cosy atmosphere. Our go-to place for special occasion dinners.

Absolutely outstanding food, service, ambience and environment. Thank you for a wonderful evening and my compliments to the chef and the whole team for making the evening perfect!

We had a delicious, leisurely lunch. The staff kindly catered for my no fat diet without any problems. Highly recommended

We had a good meal - four dishes well cooked and presented, in a nice location, with good service. Good selection of beers and ciders, including excellent Burrow Hill cider. Only downside was the prices for meals, and coffees - felt rather overpriced, eg £20 for fish&chips, £18.50 for a burger, £32 for a small portion of sliced steak, £3.80 for americano coffee. Would recommend, but be prepared for the bill!

Poor Christmas choice menu, no roast course, very expensive for the set Christmas menu and still hungry after the meal. Lamb very under cooked, no atmosphere which was a shame and very few people in the restaurant and bar, which should have been a red flag. I have been to The Candlelight a number of times and the bar menu is good, this Christmas menu was very disappointing, not even roast turkey on offer and very limited pudding choice, sorry Candlelight, hopefully this will help you improve for next year

A lovely presented place. Staff were polite and helpful. The food was also nicely presented. The only negative for us was the people with small children that allowed them to run around and scream as though it was a soft play area.

An outstanding location for great food, great drinks selection and fantastic Jazz. Exceptional service and and an all round winner evening. We will be back!

Had lunch today, I chose where to go and we loved it. We shared 2 starters the crab 🦀 😋 and the prawns and the fish and chips, delicious all of it, great presentation, really good service very friendly. Highly recommend 👌

Beautiful restaurant with a warm and cosy vibe for this time of year. The food was excellent and the staff were excellent. We were staying in a cottage nearby so easy to get to. I needed to amend my table booking (a couple of times) due to unfortunate circumstances, and they were very accommodating and helpful

Honestly the nicest time i've had in a long time! The staff are incredibly friendly and go above and beyond. The food was unreal alongside feel good music seranding us. Perfecf Sunday afternoon. Thankyou 😊

Absolutely amazing place, from location, the building, the front of house to the food. Great seasonal and local food cooked and presented to perfection.

This is a very nice pub which has been updated to a very high standard so expect lovely surroundings. The staff are very good although a few are quite young so still learning. The food is good but quite expensive so expect to pay £75+ for dinner without too many drinks! If they reduced the prices, just a little, it would be 5 star but I feel it is a little expensive at the moment but good luck to them.

Not a bad price, for the food, as this was A1. And the staff were supper friendly.

We popped in without a dinner reservation, we were seated within 5 mins. Service was quick, food was out of this world. We had the duck, the cod and chips and creme brulee for dessert. The creme brulee was amazing, we were totally satisfied with our meal.

Gorgeous venue, and really yummy food. Only issue was the meat free Sunday roast didn't have any proper protein substitute. Colliflower cheese doesn't seem like a decent swap for beef or chicken and it's not filling. The portions were medium so we all had a desert because we were still hungry. Great that there's no food waste but I'm going away still not feeling full.

One of the nicest pubs near Taunton and surrounding areas.

Deliciously amazing food, great atmosphere on jazz night.

I loved everything about our visit to The Candlelight Inn. One of my favourite things to do is eat in high end/Michelin starred restaurants. Having worked in kitchens and front of house in restaurants, albeit many moons ago, I can't help but find fault, however the only fault I could find during our visit for a 3 hour romantic anniversary dinner was that the candle on our table burned out and wasn't replaced! The service from start to finish was attentive, welcoming and friendly. The atmosphere was exactly what I was hoping for with beamed ceilings and a roaring fire in a rustic but gently sophisticated restaurant, and the food was nothing short of truely outstanding and wonderful. The Candlelight Inn is definitely in my top 5 dining experiences and I am already excited to return!

A mixed review Nice friendly staff in a well appointed bar / Restaurant A small concise menu offered a good balanced choice . The liver parfait was well made ,smooth and nicely garnished , perhaps a few shards of Maldon ,salt and a few sprigs of deep fried tarragon would lift it to another level . The scallop dish was excellent and the 2 year old at the table consumed them with relish , Main dishes were well presented and nicely seasoned The only dish to miss the mark was the rib eye , not enough sear to give any flavour and a little overcooked , The glass of Rioja could have benefited in the bottle being decanted as a great amount of sediment was discharged into the glass spoiling the wine

If I could rate the Sunday roast more than 5 I would! Quite simply the best meal out in ages. Thank you.

Lovely place, food a little disappointing. Roast potatoes were the opposite of crisp and fluffy, beef was very sinuous and Yorkshire pudding were cold and soft. The pork was delicious as was the mint sauce. Reasonable price and good portions but overall not the best roast I’ve had which is a shame as I was really looking forward to it. I don’t think we would return for the tomahawk streak as previously planed to do so

Beautiful place, food was really good however I don’t think it’s quite worth the price. Very limited parking

We had a Sunday roast. It was delicious. The staff were friendly and helpful. Loved that the vegetarian roast was as good as the meat roasts.

The service was refreshingly good

As always you can rely upon the Candlelight Inn to give you a superb experience, especially if you are wanting to celebrate a special occasion with good food and excellent wines ,which we were. All the staff were very welcoming but a special thank you to Michaela who was very efficient and went over and above to make sure our every need was met. A person of this calibre is very hard to come across in this day and age. Thank you for giving us a memorable day. Brian and Angela.

Very nice lunch with wine pairings. A little gem!

Service was perfect , food was out of this world . Yes it is pricey but it’s certainly worth it . Beautiful place

Wonderful food with good service and a nice atmosphere.

Lovely Pub restaurant. Fitted us in at short notice for Sunday lunch. Excellent food, service and atmosphere....Thank you.

Fantastic local pub. Ideal for a special occasion meal. Great food service and beautifully decorated.

Lovely experience. We stayed overnight in our motorhome, free as long as we dined at the pub. Excellent food and service

On the more expensive side but worth every penny

We have wanted to go to the Candlelight for a while and we’re just waiting for a special occasion, kids getting exam results gave us perfect excuse. We had a table is the new bar extension which is really nice, decoration is lovely, beautiful lighting and nice mixture of contemporary and traditional country pub. Menu had a good range of seasonal dishes, it isn’t cheap but for the quality there are some good value options and some menu choices for those less adventurous. Highlights were the duck breast and the harissa carrot but everything was absolutely faultless. We went for mains and desserts and my Crème brûlée was excellent. Staff were attentive, friendly and helpful and overall we had a really special evening. Will have to come back for A level results but might have to find another excuse before then.

Wonderful restaurant in a lovely village, with a cracking menu. They have motorhome parking for two vehicles too. Book ahead to avoid disappointment. Dog friendly in the restaurant too as an added bonus. 5 🌟 rating across the board.

Visited the Candlelight Inn three times last week. Thursday Night for a couple of drinks after the drive down from London, a few swift ones on Friday evening after work and then a full lunch on Saturday day time. All three experiences were top notch and could not fault anything. Bar service was extremely prompt and ensured we were never sitting with empty glasses. Staff were also a delight and very friendly. Décor is beautiful and cosy. Saturday, we were given the semi-private dining room as we had 2 young kids with us and this was perfect. Food was incredibly tasty and arrived quickly. We were dying to come back on Sunday for more if we had the time. So good was the experience that we then took our drinks outside afterwards to enjoy the stunning beer garden and all it has to offer. Will be my first point of call next time I am in the area. Big shout out to the 2 owners who we met on our first night who were extremely welcoming and ensured we enjoyed our time at the Candlelight Inn.

Nice to see old faces and enjoy a drink thank you

Great food and very good friendly service. Really helpfull with our 2 year old - super quick service for kids food in advance of the adults which was a god send. Highly recommend.

Stunning food served in a relaxed environment with excellent service, can't fault it...

Pub dining next level… A true tribute to local produce and quality cuisine. This chef can cook 😳! Absolutely elegant, fresh and creative dishes. Mind blowing! Amazing kitchen and bar staff. Thank you so much for the experience! With gratitude & love from Belgium.

Lovely old pub with great thick brick walls and oak beams. Food was of a high standard but expensive for the remote location of this inn. There is not much choice within the (lunchtime) menu, so if you don't enjoy seafood, this may not be the place for you. The service was good, but take care where you sit as close to the service area / bar is not the quietest area. I was a little disappointed as I do love fish and seafood.

Pub, location, atmosphere and staff were superb..However the food is over complicated,overpriced and far to complex and bewildering. .For a second I thought I was browsing a menu in The Ivy or Hester Blumenthal 's , obsolete ,The Fat Duck..such a shame ..!

Just had the most amazing meal at the Candlelight Inn. Staff are lovely, the food is fantastic and we were made to feel very welcome. Will definitely be returning .

Over priced and the menu was very limited with food that was over thought..... won't be returning

Wonderful place, had the best Sunday lunch ever and the dogs were welcome too, couldn't fault it.

Staying nearby and spotted this place in the caravan site guide. Saw the head chef had been on great British menu and decided to partake in Sunday lunch. Superb starter just the right size and then an absolutely amazing sharing platter for the roasts. 3 meats and as much veg as I’ve even seen in a pub lunch. Definitely coming back before the trip ends.

Very good Lovely food Good service

Spectacular - EVERY time. The best pub / restaurant in the world

Fabulous food, great busy atmosphere. Had an amazing evening here!

Beautiful family run pub in a small village setting, all very modern inside and out with what looks like a lovely pub menu aswell.

Stayed in the campervan in the car park - lovely

A great place for a lunch or evening.

What a fantastic pub, but much more. Wonderful location, excellent hospitality and very much upper end gastro pub quality. Landlord is a great host and very knowledgable. Will be returning soon.

As I remember this as a country pub and I skittle there regularly in the Axminster League, it's a pity that this is now some sort of "Gastro Pub" whatever that is - restaurant priced food!! All a bit kitsch for my personal liking.

Magnificent food, beautiful interior and a wonderful experience all round. Highly recommended.

A wonderful midweek lunch at the Candlelight Inn, delicious, beautifully presented food, attentive and knowledgable staff and, just as importantant to us, dog friendly. (Water and "gravy bones" provided!) We are an hour away but will be back! A big thank you!

*Update* Just been again and the sharing platter was even better. So much good food for the price! Amazing sharing Sunday roast, probably one of the best I've had and very reasonably priced!! Really helpful and polite staff and cozy decor!

What an absolute find. One of the best roasts I’ve ever had, service impeccable and owners and their friends so friendly. Beautiful setting and longing to go already. So good to find somewhere with exceptional hospitality 💗

Wow, what a find... We went here by accident due to our other booking being cancelled, so pleased... Lovely food, excellent service and a perfect venue. We will be back

Overpriced food served well, in a pleasant and friendly environment. Minimalist portion sizes reduced the overall experience. What you get is very well cooked and presented, however don't expect your hunger to be satiated.

Great pub totally amazed when we went inside. Beautifully decorated and laid out. Food and service fantastic.

Great service, great burger and the wide gave top marks to her fish and chips - and what excellent chips! Service was great, the surroundings were quirky modern rustic - could have been a bit more pubbish, but perhaps I'm too old fashioned?

Fantastic food in lovely country inn, heated with gorgeous traditional fires. Great staff and atmosphere.

Fantastic bistro pub, lovely food, great staff, live singer for Sunday lunchtime made for a memorable visit.

Great atmosphere, fantastic food and service. What's not to love.

The food was excellent and the service was first rate. There were lots of side dishes to compliment the main course meat, this does push up the total cost but allows you to control your plate size. The atmosphere was pleasant and we didn't feel rushed at any point. We would visit again for a suitable occasion.

Just the most amazing experience in a beautiful friendly country restaurant. A really nice meal with lovely staff .This is a great place to enjoy with friends and family A recommendation is not enough to express how much of a treat this was .... We will be regular visitors from now on Thank you so much

Amazing food! Amazing place, amazing staff, amazing owners! Thank you so much for a perfect evening!

Outstanding. Best meal we’ve had in a long time. Ticked every box. Delicious food, excellent service, lovely place. Can’t fault it. The duck was cooked to perfection. We will be back.

Lovely country pub, very friendly staff and a great menu.

An excellent meal in the very smart new extension. The locals were very friendly as well!

Even if I were to be extremely fussy, I couldn't find a single flaw in our dining experience tonight. Beautifully laid out and presented place. The food was excellent and was only beaten by the service we received from the lady who attended us, Michaela. We're not people who take photos of our food but we couldn't resist, it even looked amazing. We were warmly welcomed, even though arriving last minute and brought our dog who was greeted and treated like any other guest, given her own bowl of water, treats and fussed over. Highlight honestly was the superb service received from Michaela. We would highly recommend to anyone looking for an upmarket meal. Thank you for an excellent evening will be back!!!

Love this pub, gorgeous food, live music on various Sundays. If you can go there you won't be sorry.

Delicious Sunday roast! We loved the atmosphere, food and drink. Very dog friendly too. Thank you!

Wonderful New years meal and exceptional service. Thank you so much for 2022 and excited about 2023. Your team are amazing and a credit to your establishment. HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all at Candlelight Inn.

A lovely pub that's near some nice walks and is dog friendly. Great food, although it's very expensive.

Fabulous place to eat. Great food and staff.

Excellent food, though there was no beef featherblade which was disappointing as there wasn't really anything equivalent on offer. What we did have was very good and service was faultless.

Whilst staying at a local barn for a Christmas getaway we had the most wonderful Christmas lunch at the Candlelight Inn. The place looked beautiful with fairy lights and real fire. The waitress was really friendly and the service excellent. The food was fantastic! It is fine dining so a little more pricey than some places but you get quality for the money. My wife had the beef and I had the fish, every bit of the meal was delicious. The attention to detail was great too with a bacon crumb on the dauphinois potatoes! We had only planned on having a main meal for lunch but we ended up having three courses. Couldn’t fault a thing and would love to return. Unfortunately ill health meant we couldn’t return the next night for dinner as we had planned so we’re very pleased we made the most of our first visit! Would totally recommend it for a fine dining experience as everything from the place to the staff to the food is amazing.

Lovely food, friendly and helpful staff.

Absolute gem & one of the best sharing roasts we’ve had!🍗 Beautiful village pub with gorgeous interiors! We had a sharing roast with pork/crackling, chicken, beef & all the trimmings! Absolutely delicious. (My picture does not do it justice!) Staff were all super friendly, and also very friendly regulars in there! Very dog friendly too! This place is a treat and well worth a return!

Wonderful food! Perfect scallops & lovely mushroom soup with crumbled stilton, followed by succulent tenderloin with imaginative vegetables, finished off by vanilla panda cotta and the best dark chocolate dish I have ever tasted! Cooking of this quality deserves a bigger audience; there were few tables occupied. The service was excellent, with a kindly and attentive person on the front desk.