The Carew Arms in Taunton Deane

Never judge a book by its cover my mum always said And in the case of the carew arms she's be more than right We booked Sunday lunch at the carew arms and not being from the area we panicked a little apron arrival The outside looked as if it was closed But on checking we were told they were open The pub itself has lived a life old world charm come to mind but with modern day cooking we are both veggie The starter and the main were large and wholesome and very hot and fresh The staff were friendly and attentive at all time nothing was to much trouble We would like to thank the chef for the lovely lunches we received and the bar lady for their hospitality We would highly recommend the carew arms for Sunday lunch Enjoy 😁

A gorgeous pub ran with love and care. Nikki was an amazing host, she made us feel very welcome and looked after. The pub is gloriously quant and traditional, with a roaring fire and local cider. A top spot!

Proper local pub had the best time, food and drink just what we needed made to feel welcome ,they were really busy but the staff had time for everyone. Hopefully we will be back soon x

Country pubs don't get much better than this. Excellent food, friendly service and well positioned at the base of the Quantock Hills.

We fancied a light lunch after walking in The Quantock hills and as we had been to The Carew Arms before, decided to drop in. They were extremely busy with a large party of diners, but nevertheless made us welcome and took our order with no fuss or bother. The onion and cider soup with warm crusty bread was served piping hot and was a very good portion. We also had a side order of chips, and together they filled us up till the early evening. Delicious! I heartily recommend this pub. It’s a gem!

Amazing food, fantastic cider. Kind amd helpful staff. Would hugely advise the bacon and cheese burgers

Firstly all the staff are wonderful,very friendly and helpful.We had an issue with our room and they were most apologetic and instantly another room was prepared. The restaurant food was good and beware...the big breakfast is massive. The building itself is very old and full of charm yet although this adds to the delightful ambience especially the front bar I can see money needs to be spent on the general feel of the place.The carpets are filthy...and decor generally run down.That said we would probably return because there are more pros than cons.

With friends visiting, we made a planned trip to The Carew Arms for Sunday lunch. One of our party is a vegetarian & often we have found limited options available when looking for somewhere for the rest of us to have a roast. The Carew DID NOT disappoint, with three vegetarian options available as well as three roast choices. We had asked for a table out of the way of others as we were taking DOGS and this was no problem. They are dog friendly & the pups even have their own water barrel & bowls available. When we arrived the weather was glorious so we sat in the lovely garden, with a fab view, to have a pre lunch drink. The really friendly young waitress asked if we would still like our reserved table or preferred to sit outside, which we opted for, to enjoy the sunshine and atmosphere of the locals, cyclists, walkers and others choosing The Carew. It was NO PROBLEM! All four of us THOROUGHLY ENJOYED the amazing food! Beautiful lean, well cooked meats, seasonal vegetables, fab roasties, yorkshires & super tasty vegetarian Wellington, all generous portions. The desert menu had a great range of homemade puddings so we spoilt the diets & dived in to lemon/lime tart, brownie & apple crumble ( with custard) AMAZING! Nikki, Iain & the team were super busy but made time to make sure we had all ENJOYED ourselves. WE HAD A SUPER TIME WITH AMAZING FOOD & FRIENDLY HOSTS IN A FABULOUS PLACE……Go visit and check out the once stables, food, garden & hospitality for yourself.

The old workers bar with its ancient flags, huge fire and stuffed animals is a window into our old agricultural past. Keep it this way. One of the last few authentic watering holes left.

Ideal for a short stay. Stayed for 2 nights to attend a wedding at Crowcombe Hall. It is a very old quirky Inn in need of tlc. Staff are really friendly and helpful, bedroom was spacious with a comfy bed. Bathroom with shower over bath with complimentary toiletries, white towels. Clean, well equipped for our stay. Kettle, hairdryer, plenty of complimentary refreshments. Breakfast is cereal if eating cooked food, this is at an extra cost. No issues personally, but some other customers remarked that meat was not fully cooked through and experienced an upset stomach. Beautiful area, garden, and surroundings.

We ordered 3 steaks, 2 without mushrooms. Served on cold plates, with mushrooms. No garnish, veg nor peas. No option of a sauce such as peppercorn. A bland dish with little seasoning, not with the money. Won't be returning.

I wish I lived near this pub. The landlady is lovely and the food is very good. Its a proper pub with stone floors and through another door, old stables are now a skittle alley. The garden is beautiful with wonderful views. This type of pub is worth a visit.

The food is always good at the Carew but if you like Greek food, then this is the week to visit. You won't be disappointed.

The Inn was very good the food and staff was good but the room was a bit outdated and the bed was uncomfortable they did apologise for the room and the bed but I'm hoping that they get all the things that need to be updated before I can visit again

Had some fab Greek food at the pub last night - great moussaka lovely friendly service. Definitely visit again!

How this place has improved since Ben and Tanya took over the place! A friendly welcome, good food, dog-friendly with both indoor and outdoor options. The menu has all the regulars plus a specials board offers tempting alternatives. Well worth a visit.

Recently stayed for 2 nights to attend a wedding locally. The warmness from all staff & the locals, but particularly Ben & Tanya is the best I have ever received from a hotel stay, we were made to feel like we belonged. The views from the garden & our room were truly beautiful. Food was very fresh, good portions & really enjoyed. Unfortunately there was a problem with the shower in our room, Tanya made other arrangements immediately to ensure we wasn’t disturbed any further. Would highly recommend visiting the Carew Arms if passing.

Great stay! Lovely staff, comfy bed. The full English breakfast was delicious. I can definitely recommend.

Just popped in for a drink or two on a Sunday afternoon. Lovely welcome, friendly staff and good selection of ciders/ales. Menu looks lovely. Great atmosphere. We'll be back.

I'd booked the skittle alley as I wanted a simple 40th birthday celebration. The pub didn't disappoint one bit! After a walk on nearby lydeard hill we drove down and were welcomed by Ben the Landlord to a roaring fire heater in the alley and was extremely warm and friendly in helping us get settled. Ben knows his stuff when it comes to drinks so do ask him. Especially whiskies! The food was absolutely gorgeous. Lots of vegetarian options as well. The children loved their first time in the skittle alley as well so it's a great family pub as well. It's very spacious, clean tidy and is just one of those pubs where you feel right in the heart of the Somerset countryside. Can't wait to come here again someday! Thanks Ben and Tanya!

We stayed in a lovely room and enjoyed a great breakfast. We were made to feel very welcome by our hosts.

We lunched here on a circular walk from the East side of the hills, make sure you plan your timing to arrive when open, as its worth it ! Good pub lunch well served in a lovely characterful bar, with good beer.

As a family of four adults and two children celebrating a missed Christmas 'get together', we booked Sunday lunch on February 21st not knowing what to expect. We were met by Ben ,the manager who was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant was immaculate, warm...

The Carew came under new management recently and has improved substantially. It wasn't bad before but now is on a different level. Today my wife I had the "luxurious fish pie" and it's the best I've had in any pub and I have had a...

After popping in a few days previous to NYE 2021 with muddy feet and dogs we got a warm welcome from these guys and stayed for good beer and great food. We asked about NYE and they were putting on a bash so it would...

22 of us (pre-booked!) recently had dinner at the Carew. We had delicious food with VERY good service. Everyone's meal arrived in one go, so no-one ended up with cold food having waited for others to be served. Staff were really friendly and patient. Only...

I chose the Carew Arms as the venue for my brother's Wake as Crowcombe is very special to me as we used to have family holidays near the village between 1958 and 1975. It may not look anything special on the outside, but it's well...

Julie the chef does an amazing job. We had 3 courses, greedy I know! When eating elsewhere one course can let a meal down,but all 3 courses were exceptional. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Thank you all for a very pleasant evening.

Never judge a book by its cover I say. Owners are super nice. Had a great night's kip on nice beds. Breakie was pretty good to. Great start to our 3 week camping holiday x

We had a great visit and the staff were so helpful! They couldn't do enough and we had a great time!

We can’t thank Lily enough for being so accommodating to us when we visited at the start of half term. The traffic out of London was a nightmare and we arrived at the venue after midnight! Lily gave clear instructions on how to access our...

Wow! Being locals we visit The Carew often, but today was something special. We don’t normally eat here as we tend to visit 4-6 but today after popping to Taunton we called ahead and booked a table for lunch. The weather wasn’t great but we...

Lunch-time visit and, because of Covid limitations, expected a reduced menu. Far from it. A wide selection plus a specials board. Ample outside seating with a decent size awning in case of bad weather. The food was excellent and we'll definitely be back soon.

Visited hear last night with family members and the service was excellent.. the food was incredible and the staff where polite and well mannered ... could not fault anything ... massive credit to the manager who has done amazing and I will telling everyone to...

Amazing service and food last night. We had share platters for 3 of us. So much food! Definitely recommend

Steer well clear, super rude and unhelpful staff, and just nothing like it used to be unfortunately due to this. Yes it is covid and we all need to adapt, but turning away locals from an almost completely empty beer garden after a long walk due to future reservations (some actually seemingly hours earlier who hadn’t even turned up) was just unnecessary when we only wanted one quick pint and would have been out well before any of the ‘reservations’ arrived. They could have at least pretended to want to be accommodating, not just been rude. Very unpleasant and will be sticking to the Blue Ball in future.

I give five stars because of the great service and how nicely they keep conditions Covid wise. Jeremy, the cook and also manager of the place, is very kind and makes things comfortable for you.Room was clean and bed linen was nice and comfy; the Wi-Fi was not great due to the thick walls, so just be prepared with your data if you needed it. Shower was powerful and the heater in the bathroom was enough to keep all the room warm. Food is very nice and portions are big. We tried most of the menu, our favourite starters are the mushrooms and mackerel pate; the veggies tart and the beef were our repeated mains. And I have to say, the chips they serve are one of I've had recently. Ah! The desserts are very good and enough to share, give them a go!There is a beautiful beer garden, perfect for watching the sunset with a nice local cider.Location is great, we went to have some mountain biking, so it is very easy and quick to get to the top of the Quantock Hills, cycling, walking and driving.

This was a day out trip with my husband. We decided to sit in the garden. It was spotlessly clean and well cared for. Very peaceful and not too hectic. The staff were really friendly and the food was lovely. Good portions and a reasonable price. We both had the burgers which were the best I've ever eaten. Thank you for lovely homemade food! We will definitely call again.

My friends and I stopped off at this place without letting them know we were stopping by and they had no problems letting us eat. There were 12 of us so we were very pleased they could cater for a large number without worry. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. The food was wonderful also! Everyone licked their plate clean! Would recommend this place to anyone.

Last minute find....and what a find! Warm welcome. Huge beer garden, great pizza and good music. Hand sanitiser at the ready, clean and safe. First time at a pub after lockdown.

We stayed 3 nights to do some walking in the Quantocks. The staff make the Carew Arms - so welcoming and helpful. Nice food and a comfortable bed.

We had a lovely meal at The Carew Arms. Myself, my wife and our two young daughters (12 & 6) were staying nearby on a spontaneous mini-break during a stormy February and they couldn't have been more welcoming. I started with a Florentine fishcake, which was absolutely delicious. My wife had the prawns done in garlic and sweet chilli and they were superb as well. The kids ate well from the childrens menu, and enjoyed the casual surroundings. For mains I had a confit duck and my wife had a chicken supreme and both were delicious. We couldn't manage desert (thanks to the generous portions!) but left satisfied and happy with a great dining experience. Well worth a visit.

Sunday lunch was very good nice choice of roasts plus couple alternatives and baguettes on offer. Food very tasty and piping hot, delicious home made apple cake. Dogs made welcome and very pleasant bar staff would definately return, do not be put off by exterior!

We always receive a warm welcome at the Plough and there is always a good range of items on the menu. This has recently become one of our favourite pubs for regular visits. Well recommended,

I popped in for lunch today with a chum whilst we were on a day out doing a bit of photography. We were warmly greeted by the very friendly young lady behind the bar, and made our way to the restaurant (go through the door that's in the corner of the bar).I ordered scampi and my chum ordered ham, egg and chips, we choose a table, sat down and in no time at all the food was presented.....oh my goodness... My scampi was just amazing, crispy yet soft and juicy inside, the best I've had in ages, great big fluffy chips and Petit Pois. My chums ham was more like a gammon steak it was that thick, he loved it btw.I'd highly recommend this hidden treasure if you are in the area, I shall be returning with my wife....

We visited one evening for a meal while staying locally, and were very well looked after: prompt and friendly service, a pleasant local-pub atmosphere.The food is good standard pub fare with some interesting variations. We had grilled goat's cheese and creamy mushrooms to start, followed by steak and ale pie, and chicken and chorizo pasta. Servings are large. I could have had my starter as a main.

Had a one night stay with my wife and our 3 month old son, staff very helpful before and during our stay, rooms basic but very clean, great value, quirky building with lots of character - great beers available and cider and breakfast was absolutely Bostin

What a lovely place, friendly and charming staff and excellent menu. The pub has a rustic proper pub feel about it. Comfy but not smart, food was delicious but not gastro. It is obvious that the chef knows how to cook, and the imaginative menu reflects this. Good seasonal produce. Warm and welcoming on a cool showery Spring day. I loved this place, brings back memories of an unspoilt pub with plenty of charm. Had I not gorged on a delicious roasted vegetable tart, I would have chosen a desert, as they looked wonderful being delivered to other eager guests.

Middle of the road comfortable pub. Can be noisy from the skittle alley. And the happy hour (5 till 7) only discounts the beer by 50p which is still more expensive than other nearby (within 4 miles) establishments.

Been here many times will definitely be back in the future never disappointed great food and drinks very warm welcome

We were a group of 23 walkers and came here yesterday for lunch having pre-booked a table but not our food. It turned out to be an extremely busy Saturday at the pub, but we were still made to feel very welcome, our orders were taken efficiently and cheerfully and the food was served very quickly. I heard no complaints and everyone who had chips commented on how particularly yummy they were. The menu catered for vegetarians and carnivores. We’re going to make this an annual Christmas event for our walking group- a walk on the Quantocks followed by lunch at the Carew Arms!

This is an occasional pub visit for us. As we live in ilminster it is a tidy drive. A good selection of ales and local ciders. Friendly staff with great service.

Unfortunately the 2nd time we've been here and had 2nd rate food, thought I would try pork tenderloin instead of the usual pub food, and it was a few small pieces with a bit of stuffing and a small selection of vegetables with no potatoes!! Apparently the stuffing ball was a muffin??? This small unappetising dry dish coat £16!!!! Just not good enough! Won't be eating here again!

Lovely Old fashioned pub serving good food and good drink. Most impressive was the kindness show by the staff to a disabled couple who came in for an evening meal. Without being patronising they made a special effort. Well done.

Please don't tell anyone but just visited The Carew Arms after spending some time on the Quantocks and even though we did not have a booking can I say that the staff were friendly and helpful and the food was FIRST rate. I had the Fish & Chips and the Batter on the fish just crumbled in the mouth and the fish was oh so fresh. My wife had the Dressed Crab and both meals were presented really well and what can I say about the desserts other than if no one was looking I would have eaten the bowl too. Thanks need to go to Garmin as it was the SatNav which picked the nearest place for food and we went with it..... We Will Be Back For Sure, SOON.

Love the pub and the garden but the drinks were not up to pub standards. Pimms was lovely although it should never have lemon in a Pimms - orange and cucumber and mint and apple but NEVER Lemon. Bar staff need educating on this - it is not the first time. We only had one drink because Exmoor Ale had floating things in it - lots of them and only realised 3/4 way through the pint. Mentioned it on way out to barmaid who said "it's a new barrel" ! eek - the pipes must need cleaning we said. Dodgy tummy on the way.

Nice pub in a beautiful village but sadly our bedroom was in desperate need of attention and I hate to say it but a bit grubby too.

Traditional country pub that I am guessing has thankfully not changed much over the years. It had friendly helpful bar staff and customers and served up good pub grub. We would certainly return if in the area.

Visited the Carew for an evening meal with my partner as a treat... we weren’t disappointed

Stopped in for dinner on a Saturday night while visiting the area. PROPPER hearty pub food - venison stew, mash & veg was perfect. Mrs enjoyed her sea bass too! Dog friendly - great service (a really friendly bunch)

Dropped in after a 22km hike for dinner only to find we were an hour early however the chef was in early that day and she kindly came over chatted with us and took our order and it arrived promptly before the 7pm start for booked tables! Really tasty beef and lamb joints with all the vegetables. Chef came by mid meal to check all was good and we complimented her on the really tasty meals!

Been here many times! Not my first review.

We went to the Carew Arms for lunch. We both chose the slow roast belly pork. It did take a bit of time to arrive, but it was well worth the wait. The meat was beautifully cooked, with crackling you could eat. New potatoes and six different vegetables, all well cooked. We both cleared our plates, but were too full to try the desserts.

Paramos aquí para el almuerzo durante una caminata quantocks. Aunque el interior es de necesidad de cuidados, la comida era deliciosa! Tuve la lubina y mi marido el pastel de carne con cerveza, tanto felices con nuestra selección. Festival de la cerveza en el jardín con una banda genial que nuestra experiencia. Situado en un pintoresco pueblo - Espero volver algún día!

I rarely go to the Carew Arms because although I live close by, it's been a bit hit-and-miss down the years. We thought we'd give it a try for lunch with visitors and their young kids ...

Mercifully this is still an old-world pub that has not (yet) been given a trendy makeover. Unpretentious but decent food & drink in pleasant and ancient surroundings. The expression "use it or lose it" comes to mind.

Visitamos los brazos Carew durante el fin de semana de Pascuas. Mi marido y yo compartimos entrantes - uno con paté y otra con setas con corteza de hierbas. El paté era muy buena, pero el hongo se merece una llamada especial - ¡fantástico! Los...

Yo estuve en una casa local totalmente equipado para 4 noches y comimos aquí tres de los 4 noches! Realmente precioso local con buena comida. Quería jugar bolos pero demasiado cansado después de un día de trabajo y una comida maravillosa. Precioso jardín, pero estaba demasiado fría para nosotros salir - rodeado por campos y el pueblo muy bonito.

Booked last minute but a good find. This is a very old building and whilst the room was clean, warm and comfortable there were some quirks of age - did not bother me! Great welcome and very helpful staff throughout my stay. Rooms can be accessed either by the outdoor stairs or the internal ones depending on whether the pub is open or not upon your return. Amazing shower and clean room. Good pub grub, well priced, good portion size and without faff. Breakfast was really very good, and yes there were people cleaning the pumps at the same time but they caused no disturbance. One small downside is that the waste water in the rooms has to go through a 'macerator' prior to entering the drains (old building stuff) and you can hear the neighbours switching on and off in the night.Comfortable stay, would book again if in the area.

This is a lovely village pub with a huge capacity and seatings. The owners are really friendly and communicative. Theres always loads of ales and the food is straight forward. Lunch menu with classics like sandwiches and light bites, and dinner menu plus specials. Good prices and atmosphere also

We came across this pub whilst walking in the area and decided on Sunday lunch. Staff really welcoming and found us a table. Both chose roast beef. Service was very prompt and meals looked great when they arrived and were very tasty. Unfortunately the beef, although perfectly cooked was a bit on the chewy side. Shame, and at £9.99 was great value. Would define try again though....lamb next time!

We ate here at lunch,evening meal and breakfast,as we were staying here for 1 night on our way to Devon. We had our 2 dogs with us,this isn't an issue and you can sit where you want to. The food is great,just way too much for me. The staff are lovely very friendly and service is good. I will review the B and B separately.

My wife and I were on our way to an afternoon with the Over Stowey Cricket Club when our can broke down right outside the Carew Arms. It became a three hour ordeal but life became easier when the landlady of the Carew Arms brought out a tray of coffee to ease the pain - with her compliments. What a nice touch and thank you very much.

Stayed for one night B & B. Room accessed by an outdoor staircase, with a wobbly handrail. Shown to our room by the chef. Mixed thoughts about this place. The bedroom needs attention to detail. Carpet grubby, and grime/black dirt on window frames and skirting board, damp patches on ceiling and cobwebs. The bed, although clean, had no headboard, and marks on the wall where it had been. Both the curtain poles were each missing a finial at one end. Toilet and handbasin very clean, possibly new, but general decoration needs updating. One of the windows in the bedroom was obscured by a plant growing outside. Breakfast was served in the bar area, not the restaurant. A member of staff cleaning the beer pumps whilst we were eating. Breakfast was good and tasty and the lady serving was friendly and chatty. Looking round the bar area, again attention to detail, ie wall lights with no shades need matching light bulbs and the paint on the walls needed to be more neatly finished around the edges and beams. Dusty and cobwebby in places.

Stopped here for a much needed pint and baguette having been on a walk round the Quantock Hills. The Carew Arms is nice enough, if lacking a little atmosphere on a quiet weekday lunchtime. Outdoor toilet was not impressive though. Lady behind the bar was on her first shift but was friendly and happy to find out things when she wasn't sure. Good local cider and a small selection of local ale. Baguettes and cheesy chips hit the spot and it was all good value. Lovely looking beer garden if the weather had been better

Was a regular visitor here many years ago, so thought would be interesting to drop in at lunch time to see how it is doing. Exterior looks the same, but interior much changed to give much more capacity for searing and retain the skittle alley.However very quiet mid week and not much atmosphere compared to years ago. Food not bad and nice choice of cask beers.

I've visited the Carew Arms twice; once in a group for an evening meal and as one half of a couple for a pint and a bag of crisps. The service and the food was faultless on both occasions. The pub setting is beautiful. Inside, the separate rooms have log burners - even the skittle ally has a huge log burner. It feels like a pub that does food rather than trying to be a restaurant. Don't expect matching furniture. Do expect local ales and a great range of bar snacks. I would visit again in a flash and I'm looking forward to going back in the summer to enjoy the beer garden.

We found this pub by accident whilst exploring Exmoor and the North Devon coast. The locals were friendly and welcoming when we walked in. They recommended us to some of the menu items, which we chose and were not disappointed. The food was home-cooked and arrived piping hot. There was a nice selection of real ales too.We were there on a Sunday lunch time, but it was not too busy and the service was quick. There is a nice beer garden with views across the fields, which were occupied by the new-borrn lambs and their mums at this time.

Very disappointed. The food was of very poor standard. The staff not at all accomdating. My nephew who organised his mother's wake at this establishment was very embarrassed. My aunt and uncle ran this pub and my sister worked for them for many years hence going there after the funeral. Ashamed taking mourners traveling so far.

This place could be charming as it offers a cosy front bar with wood burner, as well as a skittle alley and a larger area for eating not to mention a generous beer garden out back should the weather warrant it. Dogs are also welcome - exactly what you would expect from a local pub. It's a shame that the barmaid is clearly so incredible unhappy to be there. She literally ruins the atmosphere and the experience of going there time and time again.

The Carew, where to start. I should say that I have a great attachment to this pub. I grew up in this village and I love its charm, still in its blue colours. Since moving back to the area some years ago I have tried the place several times and always with very mixed results. Going to the Carew for me is like supporting a failing sports team. I find myself on the sidelines trying to will them on but always feeling disappointed. So everything I say is out of a sincere wish for the place's success. I may not have run pub but I know how to run businesses and I have know the hospitality trade all over the world. This place could be and should be great. But fundamental flaws undermine it every time. First the place. It is hugely charming. The front bar is clearly the province of the locals and for the social pint guys. Good atmosphere. Tick. However, it is unwelcoming to outsiders and you aren't going to cover your overheads from a few pints. The dining room is long (former skittle alley) cold and unwelcoming. Come on guys, you can do better to make it interesting and welcoming. It was cold when we arrived at 8 pm. Our fellow diners told us that they had asked the staff to turn the heating on. It is November ! Second point. It was Friday night. The place should be heaving. We were one of two occupied tables when we arrived, and three by the time we left. OK. Some good bits. The blonde barmaid was excellent. Welcoming, pleasant and knowledgeable. I ordered my usual pint of Exmoor but she also let us try a new ale brewed in Lydeard St Lawrence called Kubla. Really nice and I am sure to have it again. Huge tick on service at that point, however, this fell off later. We take our seats. Service at the table....incredibly slow for even a slow night. I don't get it. I counted 5 front of house staff for three tables and a few locals swigging beer and cider. Why so long. The young girl and guy who came to the table had no clue about the menu, having to go back and ask what the soup was, not asking us if everything was Ok, did we wanted sauces/condiment etc, all of which we had to ask for. Still they are sixth formers etc, But major opportunity missed to push specials, make recommendations etc, and bizarrely they never offered a wine list, a number one way to maximise profits. Now to the food. The menu has too much on it. It can't be fresh so it has to be a freezer job. Most en place would be stretching it....and it tastes like it. What on earth is "Blanchebait" ? I refused to order it and called it whitebait instead. Its just silly. It was OK (my partners's choice). I had the camembert which came on a huge plate with lots of salad leaves straight from a packet (no dressing on it or offered). The three small pieces I had looked meaner still given the presentation. They tasted...just OK. I realised part of the problem, little if any seasoning, and this was the same with everything. I wonder if the chef ever tasted anything to come out of the kitchen. The biggest problem was the main course. My partner ordered the salmon at over 14 quid. It arrived on a small plate looking very odd with half a lemon plonked next to it. It looked dull and overcooked with an odd grilled glaze, which just made it greasy. It tasted worse than it looked and arrived with a very mean array and small portion of veg. However, the broccoli was good. My fish and chips was on the verge of not good enough, but we went with it. Again no flavour or seasoning on the batter and pale under done chips. Not good. We sent the salmon back. The blonde barmaid came over and apologised. We explained, she did not argue the point but charmingly offered another portion or something different. Huge tick on service. Frankly she is a gem and what saved the night for us. Another fish and chips was ordered as a replacement. This was better and freshly cooked but still flavour and seasoning issues, but good enough. We then ordered the Vacherin. It was more of an eton mess style dessert i.e. no classic meringue casing, but I suppose you could argue it was "deconstructed". It tasted very good and whoever made it understands creme chantilly. Then the bill. Still charged for the salmon (twice the price of the fish and chips). The dark haired barmaid apologised and rectified it. She was trying. Upshot, sadly disappointing. I know some people give this place rave reviews, but frankly they must be smoking something. Realistically this place could be just brilliant, and they could double their profits. There is lots of competition from village pubs (four in Stowey just across the hill) and several surrounding, but a bit more thought (and not a lot of cost) and a few changes and we would be there every week. We really wish them well, but they need to revisit the menu, recognise false economy, get a chef who cares, boost the service and it could be amazing. We will come back out of hope and loyalty, but not so soon as there is better available. However, I do think the attitude of the staff has definitely improved since our last visit, and well done for that.

My partner and I were on our way back from Cornwall late last Sunday evening, the weather was pretty grim travelling back, so we looked on the internet for a place to stay and chose the Carew arms.We arrived around 8.45pm on the Sunday and were told that food was still available, which was great, as we were starving! After being shown to our quaint and cosy double bedroom, we proceeded to the dining room.The young girl behind the bar was very mind and attentive, making sure we got what we wanted.My partner had the veggie lasagne which had beetroot and tarragon in it, it was the delicious!I had the gammon steak which was so juicy and perfectly cooked by the young chef in the kitchen...For desserts we had bread and butter pudding and treacle, both stunning and we'll presented!!The price of the room, food and drinks were incredibly reasonable!The owners should be proud of the young staff on that night, clearly giving so much passion and care in what they do, even in absence of seniors...Well done guys! Thankyou for a lovely stay, we will most definitely be returning!

We went to this pub as a family on a recommendation. As we went in, I felt it was rather unusual, as we went through a courtyard to get to the bar and dining room. The room was long and narrow and very Spartan, and reminded me of my school dinner room. There was a large contingent of adults and children, which we felt were from a nearby camp site, eating and drinking, and making a lot of noise. Next door there was a bowling ally, with a lot of locals also making quite a noise. There were some good real ales on tap beer at sensible prices. The menu was a bit unbalanced, with a few dishes such as sirloin and ribeye steak plus a chicken dish being £11 to £15 but most of the other dishes being such things as burgers and chips, which were being avidly consumed by the campers, were well below £10, The wine we ordered was O.K. and a reasonable price. The service was rather slow and poor. If we go to this part of the world again, I doubt if we will be paying this establishment a visit.

We had dinner there twice whilst staying locally. There is a great food selection, and the staff are very kind. Our sincere thanks to Helen for her hospitality.It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the Carew Arms is the quintessential country pub. Frequented by locals, it is also friendly to tourists. The menu is varied, so you will most certainly find something you like. The food is reasonably priced and fresh cooked. We would highly recommend the Carew Arms and will definitely return when we are in Somerset.

Had a lovely birthday trip to the Crew Arms today. The food was lovely as were the staff. We were eating outside, in the lovely garden area, along with some families (with young children) when it began to rain. The lovely Landlady came out and was very concerned to move everyone into the dry. Her welcome was also extended to our two dogs. This is the third time we have been to this pub, and we would go again.

Four of us went out to the Carew Arms for a meal. We booked, arrived, just after 7.0 pm, ordered some drinks and menus in hand went to our table. We ordered our mains, and a sharing platter of Italian cold meats with olives gherkins etc., plus garlic bread for a starter. We didn't time the arrival of the starter but considering how simple it was, were frustrated when it took about 1/2 hour to arrive. Following the sharing platter there was another long wait for the mains, despite the original delay. Following the mains, we had dessert, which came reasonably quickly and left at about 9.40, We all felt that the food was quite nice, but the slow service spoiled our experience, meaning we are unlikely to return. Our table was at the far end of the restaurant, it was as if they forgot about us.

Good food, nicely cooked and well presented. Helpful friendly staff, and reasonable prices for the food and wines. The.pleasant ambience completed a good evening for our whole party.

We found the charming, idiosyncratic and warmly welcoming Carew Arms by chance when looking for a venue for a family get together to mark our son's 18th birthday. It covered all the stops for us - a place with a massively warm welcome from the start, with a lovely dining area to fit our party of twenty-four, French windows onto lawns for the younger members to run around on and a friendly welcome to well- behaved dogs of which we brought three.We had arranged a per-head price and menu options in advance - starter and main course for £16.00 which we felt was very reasonable, particularly as this included plates, forks and napkins for the homemade chocolate cake we brought for desert.The food was hearty and delicious. Served with a huge quantity and variety of crisply cooked veg and three kinds of potatoes.We had forgotten to factor in coffee and tea but, when our guests inevitably started craving these, they magically appeared.The service was friendly and relaxed, yet - despite the fact that a wedding party had booked in at massively late notice for drinks and a group of a dozen horse-riders had suddenly appeared asking for lunch, everything appeared on our table at just the right pace. Helen, Emma and the rest of the staff couldn't have been more helpful.If you like a place with a bit of history and character, a flag-stoned bar with great beer AND a traditional skittle alley then we can highly recommend it. And we can't recommend highly enough just how brilliant the owners and staff all were at making it a very special day for us.

Go for the comedy...it's a ramshackle building. Walk in, turn left into the public bar. EVERYONE in there (well, both of them) will stop talking and stare at you. Even their jack russell will look you up and down. Except the dark haired bar maid who will look straight through you (if you're lucky enough to establish that much eye contact). I was incredibly tempted to shout 'keep your hands where I can see them' to see what would happen. My husband is considering going back with an air horn to check the reaction. It's been a long time since we experienced that level of old school pub welcome (roughly 1986 I think). If only we could have ordered a babycham (or anything for that matter).Anyway, we tried to order a drink and ask if we could have a meal. Happily, the bar maid was clearly trained by top door staff from the tougher suburbs of Minehead and knew exactly how to deal with such nonsense. She basically told us to keep our thoughts to ourself while she served everyone else in the bar (who wanted to order a meal and drink and pay separately...and who had actually got to the bar after us). No explanation for this, no smile, apology, offer to come back to us or indeed eye contact. Not even the offer of looking at a menu in the meantime. Just some of the most breathtaking rudeness we've come across - possibly ever.We've lived in Somerset for a long time. We've NEVER come across such a strong dose of anti-hospitality. Funnily enough we went elsewhere. Business must be very good in Crowcombe if they can afford to be that hostile to new business!!!! Go there. But make sure you do something hilarious when the bar goes silent (and please post it on Trip Advisor to inspire others) but then go and eat and drink at the Blue Ball at Triscombe or the Rising Sun at West Bagborough for decent food and drinks with people who don't hate you!!!

** I don't quite know where to start with the Carew. From the moment we stepped through the door to the second we left the welcome was non-existent and service beyond poor. Even though I do live nearby, I wasn't a "local" in pub terms and, therefore, I clearly wasn't welcome. I thought that attitude had gone out with the Ark, but believe me it's alive and well in Crowcombe. Having been left floundering to find our table (the staff were too busy chatting to a group of Minehead Babas at the bar) we eventually found our seats only to be told by a member of staff (who had to walk the length of the eating area to get to us) that drinks could only be ordered and served at the bar, there was no table service, even mid-meal. Unusual, especially as it was quiet, but okay. Okay that was until the same member of staff happily delivered a tray of drinks (and loose change) to the table behind us who were clearly local as she even had a smile for them. I'm not sure if the older, dark-haired woman behind the bar was the landlady, but my word, if she was I'm amazed she's still in business. She was beyond unhelpful. My friend's steak was quite literally inedible. It was full of tendons and sinew but no word of an apology and only a token free dessert after we refused to just let it go. Despite the dodgy steak, the rest of the food was actually quite good so apologies to the chef. But next time I'm eating out that way, I'll head to the Bicknoller Inn as that's got good food AND a warm welcome!**This review is also posted under the accommodation section for the Carew Arms - by mistake! But it refers to the same visit.

A very good selection of genuine food, served in a warm&nice atmosphere of a real old pub typically country. People are very gentle and kind. There's also a good wine list and a good selection of beer and ciders. Personally I recommend the venison. ...the best I've tried. I'll come back. Thank you very much from Italy.

A few friends and I decided to try the Carew as it is quite local to us. The experience we had was pretty awful from start to finish! To begin with we stood at the restaurant/seating area bar for at least 4 minutes whilst 2 members of staff stood chatting and laughing to people in what I'm guessing is the 'locals' bar. There was also a young lady stood in the kitchen door who apparently was unable to serve us in guessing due to her age?! Any way after several loud coughs we finally seemed to get a bar ladies attention! I can't explain how rude this lady was, just to see the look on her face, the grunt of the directions to the table I had booked and then, God forbid we ordered aPint that needed the barrel changing! We very politely said that there was no rush ( as having to change the barrel was clearly a massive inconvenience) and we would take a seat at our table. After about 15 minutes a young lady walked to our table and said I'm afraid you have to go to the bar for your drinks. On getting to the bar we were told that drinks do not get served to a table, again in a very rude and abrupt manner. we ordered our food and I have to say our starters were lovely, and also 3 of the 4 main meals were very good. This is the only thing giving the Carew 2 stars because if it wasn't for that it wouldn't get any! We were chatting and I noticed that the table In front of us were very cheerfully having their drinks delivered to the table? By the stroppy bar lady who had informed us that they don't do this! All I can guess is that they must have been friends because they even got a laugh and a smile! We decided on a couple of puddings which were brought to us by the bar lady and quite literally thrown at us! We did have to say about 1 of our main meals as it was inedible and for that we had a free pudding however it did not make up for how bad the service at this pub was, the bar lady was so unbelievably rude and had such a bad attitude that I will never return and it is a shame because the food actually was quite good! Since speaking to others they seem to of had a similar experience and so I would definitely not recommend the Carew to anyone!

cheerful and helpful staff, very welcoming, food was delicious, couldnt ask for more, both waiting staff and barmaid couldnt be more pleasant and have such a good sense of humour, will visit again and again!

A miserable day but a very warm welcome from Emma, the joint owner of The Carew Arms. Everyone who came dripping in was accorded the same warmth and we enjoyed a good home- cooked lunch and felt much revived. Emma gave us lots of local information and could not have been more helpful. We shall certainly return and look forward to enjoying the skittles alley as well.

Took my son for some lunch here and having been years ago remembered it being a lovely old somerset put but left feeling disappointed. The staff were friendly enough, but the whole place had a feel of a rather run down and unloved "managed" premises to me - no personal touches or real heart in it. The former skittle alley has been turned into a characterless run of tables and chairs (nice furniture) but lacking any kind of style of individuality in my opinion. The food came quickly and tasted nice & the service was good but it felt like a very average experience eating out. I wouldn't bother going back. Beer choice was good too. The outside loos felt like some army campus and were really grotty and poorly decorated.

We fancied a nice pub lunch after a walk on such a beautiful crisp winter's day, but it seems like others had the same idea. The pub was by no means full, however, the landlady was not happy to have lots of separate groups of people arrive at lunch time, and she made it known! She quickly dismissed us, explaining that she was understaffed and that really, we should be patient, as she had drinks to serve to people on the other side of the bar. She told us to go and sit down and wait for a waitress to take our order. After half an hour, we went to the bar again to place our order, and after some huffing and puffing from the landlady, we finally succeeded in doing this. An hour later..... with three fractious children waiting as patiently as children can, our lunches arrived (an hour and a half after first arriving!). My lasagne was burned and pretty dry and quite frankly, inedible!The waitress in charge of our table was very sweet and very apologetic, when I mentioned the burned lasagne to the landlady, she simply informed me that she would pass on the message. No apology was ever going to pass her lips!Overall, a very disappointing lunch! We spent a total of 2 and a half hours in the Carew and were made to feel like we shouldn't have been there. Basically, the landlady's attitude was very poor, and we were made to feel as if it was our fault that a lot of people arrived at the same time wanting lunch. I will most definitely not be recommending this pub, it is the most unwelcoming one I have been in in a very long time-if ever!

Three families (17 people) had an excellent Sunday lunch on 9th November having only rung to book a table that morning. The pub was extremely welcoming and we had a great meal. The weather was fantastic so the kids did all play in the garden until the food arrived which helped! Food was good and everything ordered came out quickly and all together.

I would actually give this pub 3.5 as it is better than average but not quite at the very good stage.All our meals were well cooked & tasty but very peppery. The portions are good, although maybe with the roast less variety of veg in one bowl would be better and more of the each veg. There wasn't a portion of each of the individual veg for each person, some of us got runners and not broccoli & vice versa. The atmosphere is pleasant enough & the girls serving friendly. I wouldn't say no to eating here again, but I won't be rushing back either.

Good food, nice friendly atmosphere. They catered for children and the beer was well kept. Plenty of space for the kids to run around in the garden when they weren't enjoying the skittle alley inside.

The food was reasonable, plenty of it, but quality lacking, one would call it typical pub food. Too many choices on the menu, may be better reducing and concentrating on quality. The outside of the pub needs a paint and the toilets are a real let down, outside in an out house!!! Very basic. The main disappointment was the landlady, needs to improve her customer service skills, she was not very warming or welcoming.