The Market Tavern in Wiltshire

A quirky tavern with some odd furnishings, but the food was great.

Lovely place, full of character. Immaculately clean. Food was hot and tasty. Staff very attentive could not find a fault. Will be going back. Well done to the owners - a gem

Visited The Market Tavern with my partner for lunch, and unfortunately, it was a big letdown. The wait to order food was far too long and the wait for our actual meal was especially long, considering the place wasn’t even that busy I would have expected more. This was so poor we even asked to remove the service charge which is something we NEVER do. When it finally arrived, my omelet was mediocre at best, and the chips were awful—more like they’d been boiled in oil rather than properly cooked. Overall, a disappointing experience, and we wouldn’t recommend to others looking to dine.

Fantastic "local" . Good food. Good local beer and brilliant bar staff. Always make a point of stopping off here on a night out. Good music in the background, not too loud to interrupt conversation but good to listen to when the conversation lulls!

Sunday roasts are excellent! Great vibe, cosy club feel. Great beers, food, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Beer garden has loads of cosy rooms with heaters, how cool! Drinks are expensive, though, and very disappointed that they can charge £1,80 for a splash of lemonade in the gin! shame 🫠 Also £5 for 0% can or bottle is poor!

A quirky pub. Lovely place. Great staff. Disabled toilets were spot on. Toilets were raised, plenty of hand rails, easy locking on door, and toilet flush was easy to operate for arthritic hands. Clean, too.

Sunday roasts are excellent! Great vibe, cosy club feel. Great beers, food, and the staff are friendly and attentive. Beer garden has loads of cosy rooms with heaters, how cool!

Had a quiet meal with just me and the better half.....FANTASTIC.....food, service, drinks, really really impressed 👌 👏 👍

Amazing food. Service is top class. Really enjoyed this pub.

Whilst out for a walk today we popped for a cup of tea and a slice of cake. The pub's wood burner had been lit, it was so warm and cosy. The landlord was friendly as was the bar staff, the landlord took the time to share some advice about the wood burning stove. We've eaten here a few times in the past and each time the food has been well cooked, good portions and delicious. We will definitely be back and recommend a vist.

We had a gift of a voucher for The Market Tavern Melksham and we were absolutely thrilled with the service , meal and atmosphere of the establishment. We were welcomed by a lovely young lady who is an asset to the pub full of personality, joyous and friendly. The young man who served us was also very efficient. The meal was delicious and very reasonably priced. I can’t wait to return and I will recommend The Market Tavern to all my friends. Tanya

We had our Christmas meal here. The first visit here for all of us. What a charming place. It looks small from the outside but amazing inside. Very quirky with some great decor. We had a space that was tucked away that felt like our own room. The food was good and all came out at the same time. There was live entertainment and the place was buzzing. Definitely will visit again. Melksham looked really lovely with all its Christmas decorations. They made a real effort.

I have never tasted such a lovely meal ever!! And service amazing . This pub is great. Worth every penny . Thank you so much . Georgous food, atmosphere and staff 10/10

One of the best meals I have had in a long time. Well done everyone. Staff is amazing. We had a lovely time. Many thanks. We will be back.

Lovely staff, beautiful surroundings and great food!! If you haven't been here you need to go! Extra touches which wee lovely, and the best quality toilet doors I have ever seen! 😆 Highly recommend this restaurant.

Absolutely disappointing lunch we had today Starters were tepid Main meal ok Unfortunately there were 2 very noisy children sat at the next table We could not even chat to each other they were that noisy then started running around Think it would be better if they had a children’s area I like children out with families but not unruly ones There were other people in the same room as us and they had to put up with the noise as well

This rating is all about the staff. The food was very good with a good range of options. But what made our night was the service we experienced. We loved the deco of the pub and were even invited for a sing song at the rear of the pub. But the staff were the stars, they put up with our sense of humour and made us feel like loyal locals. We visited the pub exactly a year before and with different staff on that night had the same amazing warm experience so shows the management of this establishment have got something very right in the training and work place ethos. Thanks again Market Tavern see you next year.

Disappointed very much so as we are new to the area and the restaurant had been recommended by many. We had pre booked which was lucky as it was full. The atmosphere was nice and cosy, maybe a little warmer would have been nice, seating was not that comfy but meant to be part of the rustic atmosphere. I had mushrooms on toast... Luke warm at best and the toast was just bread and butter the closest it to a toaster was a picture... Shame as it tasted fine just soggy bread with cool mushrooms was not great. We both had the fish pie... Hot.. great but lacked something most likely smoked fish..it was ok but had a lot better, we had potato wedges as side, they were dry and very oily, not really to my taste or my partner but not awful... To round it off we had a family on the table next to us with a young girl who kept screaming and running around ... Not a great first visit. Would I recommend it. Not sure we would go back to eat but maybe a drink as there's a good selection of ciders and some comfy seats at the front. Parking is in the public car park. Don't think the venue has it's own.

A lovely evening! The food was amazing, tasted great, good portion sizes and fair pricing. The service was brilliant, all staff were friendly, polite and helpful, a real tribute to the establishment. And the atmosphere was great, very welcoming and comfortable.

6 of us had a roast today and it was absolutely amazing 👏

Very nice place,good food. Bar tender was great. Strongly recommended

Relaxing, comfortable and friendly staff

Lovely venue, delicious food and great staff. Dog friendly too. Ticks all boxes for us. We'll certainly be back.

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Incredible Food proportions. Quality was unbelievable. Ambience atmosphere, absolutely incredible!!!!!

Great pub, with so much character and friendly staff. Always an enjoyable visit

How have I not eaten here sooner, what an absolute delight… Walked in without booking, the restaurant was busy but they found us a table quickly. The evening menu was small but I like that, sometimes you can be given too much choice but adding to the main menu was a selection of specials which again, I do like to see… Bread and water was brought to the table, a small touch but can’t think of another restaurant in Melksham offering this and it’s a nice touch. Garlic Bread and the nicest Olives we’ve had in ages was our starter of choice, for main I had a chicken burger with potato wedges that came served with a pot of warm BBQ Sauce that was just amazing and my partner opted for the Chicken Caesar salad (we went for curry the night before). I’m not normally a dessert person but spotted the tiramisu option and had to give it a try - again, outstanding and left me looking forward to our next visit before we finished this one… I’d often walked passed here, remembering the place from it being a weekend drinking hole from years ago, kept saying to myself, must pop In and see what the food is like - well, let me tell you, it’s absolutely amazing!

Really knowledgable about the Ales on offer. Good atmosphere, nice food and friendly staff. Has lovely old pub feel, and will be defiantly returning soon.

Great little pub, quirky and cosy, good choice of drinks can't wait to see what they do outside.. Update on this review, this pub is a must, 100% do not skip a visit, we go in every once in a while and have been going since covid, the welcome we get is always great, Jack always gives us a warm welcome. Will miss this place when we move away but will make a special trip when back from our home abroad as its just so good. Well done to everyone there you make it my fav pub in Melksham.

Good, no-nonsense food served quickly and attractively. Comfortable and nice atmosphere. Good value. I appreciated the lower cost , small portion lunch time food offerings.

My mum booked a wake for my Nanny here in September and they did such an amazing job. The food was just perfect. The price was also reasonable. £10 per head. We had a lovely little private room at the back. Very cosy and intimate. The staff were absolutely phenomenal. Nothing was ever too much. Thank you for being so kind and caring during a difficult time.

A good selection of fine beers, great food and welcoming, friendly staff

Went with my daughter and grandchildren for a meal. What a lovely quirky pub. Staff and service excellent so helpful and pleasant. Food tasty and good portions. Toilets emaculate. Beer garden so nice. Definitely will return.

What a beautiful pub, wonderful atmosphere, friendly staff vey happy to help, even the youngsters serving, happy and welcoming. I think the person who designed this pub deserves an award, we only had drinks, it was a family get together, and we had the best evening, the place is very clean, really good music playing, even in the toilets which were spotlessly clean, a very bohemian theme, we sat outside under the stars, yet warm and comfortable, clean throws readily available, and heaters, and little sectioned off areas which provided intimacy, or a chance to chat and have fun, curtains on each little sectioned off area, to keep the warmth in if needed, scatter cushions, I was very impressed by the whole experience, thanks to all for a great evening 🙏

This is a multisensory delight of a place! We had the vegetarian option for Sunday lunch, which was a beautifully balanced beetroot and butternut squash Wellington with all the Sunday trimmings that the omnivores have - Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, roast parsnip, roast potato and a smidge of cauliflower cheese, plus a trio of separate vegetables as a side; in this case, calabrese, carrot and savoy cabbage. The complimentary slice of sourdough bread and jug of tap water were a thoughtful addition. The decor is full-blown beautiful eccentricity, with every surface covered by eclectic objects and images. The garden area at the rear has a water feature and cute booths too. If my American sibling were to visit the UK this is where I would bring her! I can't say what the desserts are like because we couldn't manage one, even split two ways. The coffee is good, the gin choices are high quality and according to several beer drinkers the beers are excellent. To finish a perfect Sunday lunchtime, a live performance from Nikki and Tommy Sutton was utterly delightful. We will be back!

This is a multisensory delight of a place! We had the vegetarian option for Sunday lunch, which was a beautifully balanced beetroot and butternut squash Wellington with all the Sunday trimmings that the omnivores have - Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, gravy, roast parsnip, roast potato and a smidge of cauliflower cheese, plus a trio of separate vegetables as a side; in this case, calabrese, carrot and savoy cabbage. The complimentary slice of sourdough bread and jug of tap water were a thoughtful addition. The decor is full-blown beautiful eccentricity, with every surface covered by eclectic objects and images. If my American sibling were to visit the UK this is where I would bring her! I can't say what the desserts are like because we couldn't manage one, even split two ways. The coffee is good, the gin choices are high quality and according to several beer drinkers the beers are excellent. To finish a perfect Sunday lunchtime, a live performance from Nikki and Tommy Sutton was utterly delightful. We will be back!

meal tonight wasn't up to usual standard , Even though it was a busy Saturday night waited 45 mins for it to arrive . Also asked for a pudding menu to one of the staff members but he didn't even bother to return with it! Overall not impressed.

I had my babyshower here at the end of August and I just wanted to say how amazing the staff were when it came to helping organise it rob the owner was very helpful and the rest of the staff on the day were lovely and catered to our every needs. Definitely will be returning

This is my favourite pub in all the world. It's so friendly, interesting, and serves amazing food and drinks. The bar staff are always ready to recommend a drink if you're unsure. It's a great pub for friends, families (we like to go and play cards with our two teens), business. If you're in Melksham, don't miss itt.

Wow says it all what an amazing quirky place. Amazing food and service in a relaxed atmosphere in unusual yet relaxing and interesting surroundings. I will definitely be returning for another meal.

The food is amazing and the prices are reasonable for the quality of food. I'm not a fan of the wedges but the burgers are unbelievable.

We loved it here. We only stayed for drinks, but the food that came out did look delicious! The pub is quirky with wonderful booths in the garden area. But the reason we came back twice, was because of the lovely team there. So friendly. My nephew lives in Melksham and is always saying how cool everyone is there. There were individual heaters and blankets for chilly evenings. Well done and keep it up! We can’t wait to come back for more wine!

Very quirky, great staff and food

I can see why this place won pub of the year. The decor is super creative, the food is actually really good, and the guys running it seem genuine and kind.

Excellent service, good humoured staff, friendly too. Good meal, relaxing atmosphere in the quaint tavern. Definitely going back.

Smashing pub, very cosy and appealing, we had a lovely lunch, smoked Haddock and leek bake, best I've ever had. The boss was brilliant as were all the staff, very welcoming and helpfull, I would be in here more often if I didn't live so far away, couldn't fault the place one bit, and the floral display and hanging baskets are worth a visit just to see them.

Now this is something else, you must try it. Fantastic surroundings and the food is out of this world for the prices you pay. So surprised to find out how big it was. We talked with the owner, and he was brilliant, telling us how they put this place together. Just so unusual and brilliant all around. All the staff are family members so really care about their customers.

Great food, decent amount on the plate and plenty of flavour. I had the lamb roast, the service was superb and the staff very welcoming. The band were fantastic. There was a mix of locals and people visiting from out of town which created a warm and relaxed atmosphere.

Excellent place to eat with superb food and friendly staff

Excellent service - lovely friendly staff, very efficient. Food delicious Such a great quirky place . The friends we took were delighted with our choice of somewhere slightly different.

If anybody is wondering what the Old Curiosity Shop looks like inside,pop inside the Market Tavern. Excellent ambience service and foodstuffs, oh and the beer ain't bad either Enjoy

Had cottage pie and crusty bread there today it was delicious. Staff very friendly.

Another excellent evening at the Tavern. Great atmosphere, great food, and really fun freindly staff

Best roast beef lunch ever! Couldn't fault the service and the ambience is delightfully quaint.

Fabulous place hidden by a deceptive exterior. A real find. Excellent food ( and cake), local Cider, attentive staff, good background music and a warm comforting feel. Loved it and we will be back

Arrived after booking and it was a slightly different layout from when we were last there, which made it easier to find the bar. We were greeted by two members of staff who were very welcoming. They demonstrated an excellent knowledge of their alcohol leading us to getting beverages we all really enjoyed. Got taken to our table, which was an adorable booth. The music was playing from speakers just behind us but was nicely ambient, if there was a lull in conversation you could bob along, but otherwise it wasn't noticeable. The menu was short but sweet with a wide selection. The waitress was very responsive to our needs, taking a weird order in her stride. Food came out quickly, not too quick that you had question marks over preparation time but quick enough that we didn't get on to the topic of waiting. The food sizes were much decreased from last time which was good as, whilst we aren't small eaters, we were left presently full. Desert menu was varied and very good, would recommend the deserts. The waitress apologised for the delay for getting us the bill after 5 minutes which we illustrated was ABSOLUTELY fine which shows her attentiveness. A final note, there is a very funny, if not necessary, sign in the bathroom stalls which speaks to its interesting history. If you feel the need to go, have a read.

Our favourite place to go . 5star quality from food to staff Thank you for a great evening

What a wonderful place, great food and service and almost impossible to describe

We stopped for a snack lunch. The service and the food were very good. We were in a booth.

Absolute gem of a place, staff wonderful. Great place to relax and enjoy. Check out their quirky garden.

Good friendly service delicious meal

Popped in for a quick pint as I had heard a lot about the tavern .. it’s all true !! The pub is very quirky and a fantastic atmosphere, the staff are brilliant and the food is first class. I will definitely be going back

Popped in and noticed they had a refurb. The place looks very welcoming now with loads of natural light, comfy areas to sit and a good selection of real ales and other drinks.

Came upon this fantastic pub by chance and were just blown away. The interior is a warren of cozy nooks to seat groups small and large. We sat indoors but the garden courtyard also features lovely little cubby holes. Decor is eclectic with walls and ceilings covered in all sorts of art and quirky objects. The real highlight however was one of the very best Sunday lunches I have ever had. From a very appealing menu I chose roast belly pork which was meltingly tender with perfect crackling. Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, delicious gravy and a selection of vegetables. Service was prompt and welcoming and we had the bonus of a lovely jazz duo which added to the experience.

Had a lovely meal here tonight with our dog Daisy, staff very welcoming and attentive and food very nice, would highly recommend, thought it was a small pub but lots of rooms and little corners, giving a great atmosphere, quirky decorations. As we were leaving we got a send off like we were regulars but on our first visit. Thanks everyone for a great evening, hope to be back again soon.

15 of us came to this establishment as a post Christmas workshop doo. The place is excellent, quirky, different & very friendly ! The food was absolutely superb ! An absolute gem - Thank you

First time visiting and it won’t be the last. Had a lovely warm welcome, great atmosphere and the food was amazing. A really lovely place. Thank you.

A smashing pub which never lets us down. Great food and huge range of drinks. The staff are so friendly and warm. The biggest freshest food. Comfy traditional surroundings what more could you want. The food was spot on. Thank you for making our family get together special and hassle free.

Lovely relaxing pub, wonderful atmosphere, really quirky, popped in a couple of times while staying in Melksham for 3 nights. Food was delicious, had to wait quite a while because they had a big group but Staff came and apologised for the wait, we didn’t mind it was worth it. Everyone very friendly.

This is our favourite place to come for a drink. Firstly, it’s beautiful, charming and so well thought out for customers.. (We love the new bar area and configuration! ❤️) Secondly, the people (Steve, Jack et al) are amazing. Everyone here exemplifies first class customer service (guys, you’re missing a trick here - you could go into the training space too!). You are absolutely top notch! You win hands down! Xxx

Delicious lunch today and excellent service. There were so many things on the menu I could have chosen but my friend and I both went for the prawn ciabatta with wedges - we loved it!

Cool decorations and has many booths that are quite and private

We stumbled across this gem of a place whilst waiting for our daughter who was coaching at a local gymnastics competition, we were not disappointed. The staff were all very friendly and attentive, nothing was too much trouble. We both had the roast beef, it was delicious and so was the tiramisu pudding. It has lots of quirky alcoves, booths and comfy chairs. The decor works really well and makes the experience a unique one. The prices were very reasonable, we will definitely return if we find ourselves in the area again.

The staff were very welcoming and friendly upon arrival. We had not booked and was disappointed when we seen the “fully booked” sign as we wanted to eat, and we should have booked. We decided to pop in anyway and have a drink. Luckily for us, they did have a table for 2 available so we were seated promptly and served with great efficiency. The food was just incredible, full of flavour and cooked to perfection, it the best steak & kidney pudding my husband said! We didn’t get to the puddings as we so full, the portions are a very generous size also. The atmosphere and decor is beautiful too. Our favourite place to go ❤️

Just to back the tavern up .It’s such a shame a review such as the one by Lisa m slagging the tavern off .reviews our a tool to help businesses not a tool to be so brutal if you’re so called experience was so bad why did you stay ?why have another drink if they did not have your favourite one in stock .Why stay and have a meal if the menu wasn’t up to your taste .DIY bar that’s right all done by very hard working people who worked tirelessly,late nights long days .and then get slated very harsh.people have feelings .Ok fine I get it just opened after refit somethings don’t go to plan that’s how it goes it’s called refining. if you spoke to any staff member your issues would have been sorted out .may I say I’ve been going to this little gem of a place for a while the staff our top notch they bend over backwards to give you a pleasant stay .The owners will be only to happy to help I’m sure they our very approachable.All I can say is good luck to the tavern pls keep up the work you do it’s so appreciated by the locals .That’s a review

Sunday evening and thought we would give this place a try after it's refurb, checked the opening times and found it was open and closed at 10 pm we arrived at 9.20 to find the doors open and the lights on only to be told when we entered that they had closed, nothing outside that suggested it was closed . We left the grapes to try the market tavern but wished we had stayed at the grapes.in my opinion don't bother with the tavern give the grapes a try, very friendly bar man and great prices.

Another weekend in Melksham and this time a visit to The Market Tavern. I’m sure we’ve been here before some time ago but unfortunately this visit was something of a disappointment. Hubby booked in advance but we didn’t get a confirmation email so it was a bit of a fuss getting our booking confirmed. There’s obviously been quite a bit of a change; we had to queue to get to bar and even though it wasn’t that busy it was a bit chaotic, bit of strange set up. I’m not exactly tall but I’ve never experienced a bar that came up to my shoulders. It seemed like a bit of a bad DIY project gone wrong. We were told that the dinner menu was online but when we looked all we got was a message that the menus are changing and the only menu available was the Festive menu, not really what we had in mind. We finally got seated after a wait to get to the bar and waited for the table to be set. The menu was quite limited and definitely not what we remember but we were reminded that the menu is undergoing a change. We made the mistake of asking for a wine list. Hubby rarely drinks beer but we do enjoy a nice wine when we’re dining but unfortunately we had a choice of two reds and neither particularly appealing. Excuses were made that there had been no deliveries but it was disappointing, since when does a pub only have a choice of two red wines. Our order was taken wrong and there was a bit of confusion over our drinks which caused a bit of delay; then we had to wait before anyone was aware we wanted to order more drinks and there was next to little chance of getting to the bar. It was a poor experience overall and we got the impression that they just weren’t firing on all cylinders. The bar area is chaos, took far too long to get a drink, staff distracted, table not set, limited menu and no wine selection, then endless mix ups and delays. We did ask for a manager at one point but just got a shrug of the shoulders. Is there anyone actually managing this place?

What an absolute gem we have in Melksham. Dog Friendly 🐕 ✅️ Good Food ✅️ Great Venue ✅️ Value ✅️ This is literally one of my favourite places to visit. Whether it's for a quiet pint or meeting up with friends and family for food, this place has it all. It's definitely worth a visit ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fabulous place Excellent food 😋

A brilliant little pub, quirky and cosy with a great array of drinks available! Staff are ALWAYS smart, polite and freindly, providing a great service. Lovely to see a somewhat regularly changing choice of ales, and also nice to see the big selection of gin, rum & whisky! 100% worth a visit.

I loved the booth we sat in! You have a bell to ring for service - that was fab :-). We had the Christmas menu. I had prawn cocktail to start ( portion a bit mean) my friend had a whole duck leg as a starter and my partners lamb koftas were a generous portion. The turkey main was just ok, slow cooked beef looked nice. I had sticky toffee pudding, and my partner had lovely Xmas pudding with cream. Overall really happy with the meals and service. I shall definitely return

The team was amazing, best English pub in Bordeaux!

Great, friendly atmosphere and beautiful pub and delicious food. Shame the service was slow, apart from that we enjoyed it.

Christmas Day lunch, Wow! Well done Rob, Steve, family and team. The whole experience was exceptional thank you, great food, good wine and a team of smiling people who are happy to share their day. Thank you

Amazing place, so quirky and the service was spot on from start to finish. The food was amazing, massive portions though so unfortunately didn't try the desserts 😁 Husband had the burger and was so pleased to see a floured ( not brioche) bun 👌 ❤️ I had the Cajun chicken - this portion was huge ( came with 2 chicken breasts and a large side salad with lovely coleslaw and a portion of massive potato wedges) I couldn't eat it all ( husband helped but we still left quite a lot!). Great value too. I love the interior of this place, so much to look at and all tables different and cosy. The service bell worked really well , as soon as I pressed it each time a lovely smiling waitress appeared like magic 👌😆 Love the place, looking forward to coming back soon.

Awesome! Staff so friendly and accomodating. Food perfect. All in all it's a lovely place to eat and socialise

Just had a lovely Christmas Dinner here. Fantastically priced and tasty. Great service and a really nice pub with a quirky layout. All in all, a great night was had by everyone.

My local! Incredible place, atmosphere and friendly environment

Lovely building and outside area but drinks are costly

We had lunch at this quirky and very beautiful pub today and I would encourage anybody to visit. The food was really delicious (best I have had in a long time), the staff lovely and helpful and the surroundings amazing! It must have taken an...

A great afternoon for my birthday celebrations, food was amazing, service excellent.It was our friends first visit they loved the atmosphere and the decor .....well done,we'll be back soon .

Great and cosy place for spending time. Just a cup of tea is amazing

We called into the Market Tavern on the off chance of a table for Sunday lunch. The team was so helpful and managed to squeeze us into an already busy service. We sat at the bar and enjoyed the jazz duo and a couple of...

New review: Good and quality food. Very quick and attentive service. 5/5 this time 👍😁

Booked online. Great welcome and a really unique pub. Lots to choose from on the menu with great service. We both opted for the garlicky mushrooms and then the fish pie. Both were well-cooked and hot. Reasonably-priced house wine too. It was suggested that we...

Stopped for a beer on light switch on day Arrived about 1430 so empty. Fantastic pub and setting Mulled wine was lovely as was ale Returned later but was packed so not allowed in unfortunately Would definitely return again and hopefully have a meal too

Came here today for lunch with a friend. lovely cosy seat by log burner. dinky lunch menu was lovely,and £10 so perfect. The music was great,the service superb. Lovely touches water on table , we hear shut for refurb !!!!hope not going to lose its beautiful cosiness,quirkiness. it was fabulous !

We had a family reunion meal here recently. We were made very welcome and were seated in a private quirkily decorated alcove. Service and food superb. Great ambience. Touched by the owner getting a straw for my drink, on observing a sore mouth. Look forward to going again!

Lovely carved roast turkey Sunday lunch. Friendly welcoming and helpful staff, and the waitresses are attentive and hard working. As soon as the kitchen bell rings, they respond immediately. They deserve good tips 🪙 Will definitely be booking again.

Quirky pub/restaurant with discreet dining areas and booths, magical garden and excellent staff. Four of us had lunch which was good which was a bonus as the place and staff are what makes it worthwhile. Excellent experience.

Really friendly welcome lovely atmosphere attentive staff and great food 👍.