Highwayman inn in Cheltenham

Never experienced such dirty rooms

A Disappointing Experience at The Highwayman Inn The Highwayman Inn in Shepton Mallet, while charming in its exterior, unfortunately left a lot to be desired in terms of its culinary offerings. The food was truly disappointing, with dishes that were poorly prepared and lacking in flavor. It was a shame, as the setting and atmosphere held promise. I would strongly advise potential diners to consider their options carefully before choosing to eat here. While the staff were friendly, the quality of the food was simply not up to par.

The staff were very friendly, but I had fish and chips which I can honestly say was the most tasteless bit of fish I have ever had! Would not visit again

It's a bit big and Impersonal a basic pub

Food is consistently fresh and tasty, especially the home made steak pie, when it is on the specials board. The Sunday roast carvery is great. Always busy, so booking a table is a must.

Have not stopped here for some years but we needed somewhere for a light lunch and found the menu interesting and the food excellent. Would stop here again.

We recently gave this pub a go for Sunday roast and we were well impressed. Food was really delicious and fresh and the chef was very nice! We would definitely consider returning in the future. As it has recently been taken over we just wanted to express that it is finally heading in the right direction. Well done and thank you

I didn't stay in rooms only stopped for a pee and coffee, nice place with friendly service and a reasonable price for coffee. Lots of parking and lots of tables to eat from. Maybe it has had its heyday as one can see where it would have been an absolute joy to visit with so much space and grounds. Still I would and will stop for a meal one day to check out the dining experience.

On a coach trip, sadly this pub was closed. ?? No landlord to run this pub, very sad prime location for coach tours having a stop off.

Nice pub it's a shame they are no longer doing carvery

Very dated rooms wallpaper hanging off in the corridors. Room 14 wow you hear every noise in the building. Wont return not value for money at all no sleep for 3 nights.

Nice cosy stopover in Shepton Mallet

The mattress in room 12 was like lying on bare springs. Absolutely terrible. The hairdryer didn't work as well. We would not recommend staying here unless they upgrade the rooms.

Served us food late in evening just before close which was nice they accepted it so late. However woulda been nice if the lady at the bar would smile and pretend to be happy to serve us. Just mad it a little uncomfortable. Food was nice tho.

WORST EXPERIENCE EVER This must be the worst experience we have ever had in a hotel, really was very poor. We got there about 4 pm and we knew we had to get up early in the morning about 4 am to go to the Show ground for the Shepton Mallet Antiques Fair. We ordered some food, including a medium rare steak and when it came, it was as well done as you’ve ever seen one, it looked like it just came out of the deep fryer dripping with oil and obviously frozen and tasted like rubber. I hate complaining so I had a little bit of it and couldn’t possibly eat it. The chef spends most of his time playing the Fruit Machine and sitting in the Bar area. I thought it couldn’t get any worse and then I went up to the room, the number of the room is number one. We went to bed, early and about 1:30 am we hear this loud thundering sound that woke us both immediately, it sounded like machinery but you couldn’t possibly sleep through it. It was so loud and it went on after that but not as loud as the initial Bang. I am warning you not to stay in that hotel and if you do do not book room one. We could smell the scent of Urine when we first walked into the room and I wish I never booked it. We had stayed there before many years ago and it wasn’t like this. I can honestly say this is the worst experience. We both have ever had, the hotel is noisy too and I advise anybody that reads this. Please hear my words and Avoid this place no matter how bad it is.

Went for meal nice staff nice food all good

Rms are a good size,comfortable. Clean and tidy. Staff are friendly good place to stop over. No food was consumed here.

Typical pub food but freshly prepared.

Awful food, need a new chef and use fresh ingredients, also the establishment smells mouldy.

Just back from a weekend in the Highwayman Inn. Stayed 2 nights room clean and warm .Bed linen and towels spotlessly clean Hall ways and staircases need updating. Pub also needs updating. Had a ham salad sandwich for lunch smashing ham well recommended. Evening food OK except for frozen chips not real chips.

Staff were friendly, food was good, location for Royal Bath and West showground is excellent. Shower very good. Bed uncomfortable, pillows poor and you can hear everyone moving around the corridors. Price for night is good for what you get. Shame they don't do breakfast.

Good location near local amenities and was good for a quiet nights sleep, would recommend

Located on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet, about 25 mins from the centre. Near to show ground. Bar with tv and sports Large car park Hot food served and a Sunday carvery. Good selection of beers na d wine including a cask ale Rooms are clean and tidy, but could be updated / decorated as showing signs of wear and tear

Friendly staff,the pub was nice.

Clean rooms friendly staff only gripe is that the chef wasn't on one night and got over charged on my kebab on the menu the pub supplied ( order over x amount for free delivery which we did only to get an additional charge of £2.50 )

Stopped for Sunday lunch on way home, after a weekend away. Lovely lamb roast, with roast potatoes, swede, carrots, cabbage and Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

Whilst it may look a bit rough and ready, the staff are really lovely and the roast absolutely delicious, with generous portions.

Went here as a stop in on the way to Cheltenham for an anniversary get away. Basically , fantastic pub food at a very reasonable price - not enjoyed a pub meal this much in a long , long time. I had the chicken burger with side salad , my wife the house beef burger and we shared a lemon sibbulb ( forgive me if wrong , not sure of the name ). All was really fresh , very tasty and tasted like it had been cooked by an actual person who cared - loads of flavour , and the chips were awesome. Really friendly and cosy place - we sat by the fire , the bar tender was very friendly and down to earth and it’s super convenient only 30 seconds off the main A road to Cheltenham. Really enjoyable meal and warm atmosphere.

Delicious carvery, friendly staff and a nice atmosphere would definitely recommend 👌

Absolutely superb from start to finish. Easy booking, felt welcome right from the start.Excellent friendly hosts. Food was superb( especially as they catered for my wife who is a coeliac). Lovely atmosphere, beer was good too. Will definitely be going back again, but make sure you book as it was fully booked when we arrived.

We went (4 of us) to celebrate my husbands birthday We have eaten here several times in the past. You are always made to feel welcome. We all enjoyed our main course and the men their puddings as well. Friendly staff as always. We wish The Highwayman was a little closer to our homes so we could eat there more often

Un encantador pub rural en una concurrida calle principal. Vale la pena el pequeño desvío para llegar. La comida era casera y de proporciones generosas. Buenas cervezas reales disponibles. Personal amable y buen servicio educado. He pasado este pub muchas veces a lo largo de los años pero nunca antes me detuve. Ahora será un abrevadero regular cuando visite los Cotswolds en el futuro, un descanso realmente bienvenido.

Getting stranded at 9pm due to a breakdown, really couldn't have received more care from Tina and the guys here! They even allowed us to stay inside past closing time due to recovery taking 4 hours! A lovely warm open fire, friendly atmosphere and a good selection of foods too! I really can't thank you guys enough and we will definitely be seeing you next week! James & Amie!

What a wonderful lunch! We have driven past this pub on many an occasion - but never stopped! The Landlord was very friendly and extremely helpful with my dietary needs . . . . . 🙄 Food was great, atmosphere was very relaxing, and we left feeling very happy! Will definitely revisit when in the area.

We contacted the Highwayman in advance via their Facebook site and they responded really promptly. We were able to order in advance for a Saturday lunchtime and they were very accommodating with our needs. Mum is disabled and the facilities are excellent. There is easy wheelchair access and a large disabled toilet. We were a party of 10 and they gave us a nice private room with lots of space - the only downside was that the lovely open fire was not in with us! The food was excellent and clearly home cooked to order. The children's portions were ample for 3 girls age 9, 10 and 11!

We had a Christmas party here for about 20 good selection of food and good as well and helpful friendly staff we will return again

We had to visit Syde (a nearby hamlet) and decided to give the pub another try after seeing that new landlords had taken over. We last visited several years ago and said then that we would never repeat the experience. We went on a weekday lunchtime - there were a good number of customers already, some escaping a queue on the A417 following an earlier accident. We were welcomed by both landlords, shown the menu rack, and allowed to choose where we sat. On a lovely day, we decided to sit out in the small garden - each table has a sun umbrella. We ordered at the bar - a chicken curry for me, the liver and bacon for my wife. Drinks were Arkells bitter and a soft drink. We waited about 20/25 minutes for our food, which is obviously cooked to order. My wife was happy with her meal. My rice was a bit undercooked and the nan bread was hard as biscuit, but the sauce and chicken were very tasty. If you want good pub grub served by friendly staff in a character venue, the Highwayman is a good choice. We wish the new landlords all the best in recovering the inn's reputation from the doldrums of the past few years. We will be dropping in here again and hope to organise a ramble for our local club using the car park.

This pub is under new ownership, and the new owners are trying to reverse a spiral of decline over the last couple of years. Food now better, and a decent welcome guaranteed. Ignore reviews older than about two or three months.

Paid a first visit to this pub having passed it many times. Found it had a new landlord of some four weeks who is trying to build up the business after the previous landlords would appear to have run it down ( see previous reviews ) A friendly landlord now and whilst the current menu is somewhat limited (could usefully add more fish options and this is promised) a new chef starts shortly. The food is well presented and the portions generous. We will return in due course when I expect to be able to give four stars

I am sad to say that a recent visit proved to be fruitless as the property is no longer in business and it was a very long walk to another establishment especially in the snow covered Cotswolds .

We went here as a large party for a celebration meal. The pub is easy to find off the A417 with plenty of free parking avail. The staff are friendly, pub is nice and welcoming with a lovely open fire. The food was nice but my Yorkshire pudding was carbonised and took about 25mins from order to delivery. I had the sticky toffee pud with custard but the custard was a bit lumpy. Prices are just about average for the type of place. The men’s toilets although clean had an unpleasant odour in them. Otherwise, I would probably return for another visit.

Pulled in here during a long journey. Deathly quiet but reviews seemed ok so we went for it. Menu was quite pricey. Ordered ‘cotswold sausage and mash’ for £13. Sausages far from Cotswold and worse than Richmond, more like frozen and it was debatable if they had any meat in. Veg was alright. Shame really as this could be a lovely pub. Think this might have been the same night as one of the October reviewers below, also on a long journey and very disappointed!

Called in on Friday night and the place was completely closed does anyone know if it's still open. It's a shame if it's closed food is usually excellent.

Long journey home from Southhampton to Mid Wales. Stopped by chance at Highwayman. Enterance quite dark and very cold. That should have told us something. Inside no greeting but asked for a table for three and showed a table right by fire but choose one further back. Asked about drinks and given a menu. Drinks arrived but noone took order till we asked. Ordered at 7 55pm and no meal by 8 25pm. Asked would meal be long and were told they were just plating up. So expected meal in 1/2 minutes but just over 5mins passed. Explained about our long trip home. THEN meal arrived. I had the ham, Husband had the Angust beef burger off special board and our daughter had the tagalateli, hope its all spelt correctly. Cold plates for the ham and burger meal. Other dish was hot. Plenty of ham and very tasty chips a bit greasy and not fresh frozen. Salad was nice and presented on sererate plate. Burger meal was dissapointing. Burger was so ordinary, was just like one you buy at Iceland. Very flat and no sauce with it like it said on specials board. It sounded lovey on that. Egg over cooked and bun toasted too much. The other meal was lovely. Noone asked us was the meal ok. Room was cold.Fire was not sending out enough heat. By the time we left enterance to pub was even darker and very very cold. By the other revievs we picked wrong night.

Went with my friend for her birthday- lovely meal staff very friendly and couldn't do enough. Definitely going back.

Good food and a friendly atmosphere make this an excellent local for us as a family. It is also great for passers by with a large carpark just off the main A417. Lovely in winter with a real fire.

We been past this restaurant a lot of times but never stopped .we were getting late for lunch so we decided to stop here.first class the food the food is fresh and great the staff very good the main man and his partner very good...

Decided to visit this place on speck one Friday lunchtime (Good Friday) a well known landmark within the County. Having viewed the website the choice of food looked good, so went with eager anticipation. I can honestly say that on arrival it looked quite busy...

Como siempre lo pasamos comida Mark y el personal siempre después de nosotros siempre tan bien relajarse lugar para estar y disfrutar de la noche fuera

De camino a casa nos quedamos con hambre y fuimos a cenar. El personal es muy amable y atento. Buena elección en el menú además de unos grandes ofertas junta, arruinadas por elección :)

Este pub merece ser un poco más concurrido, pero desde un punto de vista tierra egoísta es agradable poder sentarse y disfrutar de una comida en un ambiente agradable y cómodo. Hemos tenido varias comidas aquí y siempre tenía un buen servicio, comida deliciosa y una buena selección para todos los gustos. Los especiales junta normalmente atrae pero el menú estándar es tan sabroso. El personal amistoso y en el invierno una chimenea crepitante agrega a la atmósfera.

We were travelling back north after a holiday in Somerset and stopped at the Highwayman entirely at random. We didn't want a big lunch so we opted for a baguette which came with crisps and salad. As simple as it sounds it was incredibly good and the staff were excellent. Prices were not high - 3 soft drinks and 3 sandwiches as described was about £18. The pub itself is old, probably 16th century by the look of it, and was very much the clichéd English country pub with the beams and the open fire (not lit as it was a red hot day when we passed through). The atmosphere was very pleasant and as they have rooms my wife and I have agreed that if need arises we will stop over and try their evening menu.

Warm friendly pub with excellent food reasonably priced. A good pub for the winter. This was not my first visit but my first meal. Excellent large portions well cooked in good tie for a lunch. Very pleasant cosy atmosphere with plenty of customers despite it being a weekday lunchtime.