The Packhorse in Bath and North East Somerset

Great food and very responsive staff. Wonderful after an autumnal walk.

I had a cultural shock here. The weather back in 2017 was unusually hot and the beer is served at storage room temperature. I drink my beer cold and this beer was warm - I didn't like it. I think I need to drink more to get used to it. 😂I will go back when it's cold and taste the beer again. Still giving it 5 stars!

A fantastic pub that deserves more than 5 stars! The food was very good, really nicely presented and on par with pub food pricing. As usual I forgot to take a picture of the food so I will have to go back, can wait! Staff were friendly and the pub was in great condition after its recent overhaul. It’s got lots of character and history, you can park outside and it’s dog friendly so great all round. This is definitely worth a visit

Excellent evening meal with friendly, attentive staff. The homemade chicken, chorizo and cheese pie was the best I've ever had (and I am fond of pies!) It was very substantial, packed with first-class ingredients and the pastry was superb. The starter I had (a cassoulet) was also excellent; and the Eton mess I had for desert was absolutely delicious.

Fabulous pub, gorgeous setting, the perfect quintessential olde worlde hostelry. Food wonderful, generous portions, welcome second to none

A real treat. Portion too big for me but all beautifully cooked and great service in a special place

Excellent food and atmosphere. Our waiter, Alex, was professional, helpful and very polite. Well worth the journey!

Fantastic service and very friendly staff

We had a lovely meal here with family recently. The food was delicious (pie was one of the best I’d had in a long time!) and the service was brilliant - our server was really friendly. My mum has coeliac disease and they were really helpful in catering for her and explaining how they could adjust the dishes to be gluten free. We had such a lovely evening here and would absolutely recommend it to anyone in the area who wants a lovely pub meal.

First went to The Packhorse in the sixties. Still lovely place. Sunday lunch for 4, food good, service good, no pressure. There looking after it for you James 😊

The denizens of South Stoke are both perspicacious and fortunate. Their local pub is the Packhorse that they had the foresight to buy as a community project. It has history, this place. 1674 is carved over the front door, but that is the rebuild date. It existed as a farmhouse long before. Changed from a farmhouse to a pub and eventually became part of avaracious Punch Taverns estate in the 19th century. They closed it again in 2012, intending to sell for private housing to maximise profit. A perspicacious local campaign achieved 'an asset of community value' designation and raised near to £700,000 to buy and renovate. It reopened again as a pub, March 2018, after much hard, voluntary work and dedication A cellar below that keeps the ale in noble condition, probably the largest selection of nonalcoholic options, a modern kitchen that delivers top restaurant provender, an extention upstairs dining/function rooms and a lovingly tended garden area to sit out in, makes the journey to, worth the effort - but the parking can be an imaginative experience. This is why the locals are so fortunate.

Been going there for 50 years, always a warm welcome and a lovely garden but the food was tiny. 18 quid chicken salad had barely a small drumstick of chicken in it, all 4 dishes were ate in about 5 mins and the Eton Mess was a strawberry cut up in a dish of squirty cream. £100 and we bought a sandwich on the way home, Sadly disappointing. Staff however lovely.

What an amazing gem! We had a table booked for Sunday lunch but as it was sunny decided to move to the beautiful garden. Food was amazing, great array of veggies on the roast and the best yorkies! Extra gravy was provided upon request, the staff were very friendly and helpful. Portion sizes were great too, including the kids meals. I love that there was no separate kids menu but just half portions of everything in the adult menu. We are planning a family work based on this pub now, we have to.go back!

Fantastic garden when the sun is shining Relaxed atmosphere

Had a wonderful Sunday roast here. Everything really well cooked, exceptionally good, topped off with friendly and excellent service. Thank you!

Wonderful, friendly, community owned pub, saved from extinction in 2013. What a success story built on hard work, passion and perseverance.

Definitle 100% recomendation 👍🍺🍺

5/5 definitely The best pub I’ve ever been in the Uk. It’s a local pub. If you would like to experience local vibe, don’t miss this amazing pub!!!

We spent a lovely afternoon at the packhorse. It's in such a pretty village and surroundings. The staff were very diligent despite being really busy. Food was lovely. Little bit pricey but no different to anywhere else in the area. But then I can't afford to go out special much, so probably not the best to comment. Would definitely recommend as it had been recommended to me. Really enjoyable.

Excellent community owned pub that started in 1618!! Beatiful garden, wxcellent food and service! Plenty of nice public footpaths around with beatiful views. Don't miss your chance to visit this place!

Couldn't recommend this place more, tremendous Sunday roast, great staff and a beautiful building and environs.

A lovely quaint pub, friendly staff, food very nice and it doesn't have that 'your not a local' feel. Would go back !!

Fabulous place. Fantastic food. Great, friendly staff. 100% will be back when next visiting Bath.

Wifey & I just popped in for a drink n chat. Lovely welcome and a great selection of beers. We found a quiet warm spot and sat for a chat & 2 drinks. Didn't eat this time as had lunch elsewhere, but have eaten here several times & always had superb food. Super lovely pub, great cheerful staff, and a real comfortable atmos. Highly recommended a short drive south of Bath.

Exceptional pub with fabulous food and the warmest possible service from Molly. Can't recommend this place highly enough.

Very friendly staff, excellent food, well kept beer, good prices. Multiple cozy rooms, and a good garden. This is a very old building, so accessibility is restricted. Toilet being up some awkward and steep stairs might be a challenge to some. Parking is a bit challenging, although "odd down" park and ride car park is a 15 minutes easy and pleasant walk away, which is what we used.

Lovely quaint pub, only visiting for a drink so had to sit outside as it was full of people having dinner,

Early 2022: Love this place as our local pub. Friendly staff, excellent food, good range of drinks. Options to sit inside (next to a fireplace) or outside (great during summer). Also has a great history / story. Update: Even better. New menu is delicious. Apr 2024: Still a fantastic spot, great food and service. Spring in the beer garden on a sunny day can't be beaten!

Great service, great food, attentive staff who were as knowledgeable as they were friendly. Lovely cosy atmosphere with the fire on. Being sat behind the door was a bit annoying as it was resisting in my chair, but didn't bother me too much once I sat down. Would be good if there was a stopper as I imagine this would annoy some guests. Will be back and look forward to doing so.

Had Sunday lunch here and was a bit disappointed. My roast pork was delicious, but only came with 2 roast potatoes & cabbage. The white chocolate cheesecake however was delicious.

I love this pub, the beautiful location, building, the best service by Alex and the others, as well as excellent food. It has the whole package for me.

Our daughter is a student at Bath Uni and this year is living in a flat on this side of Bath. We first went to The Packhorse for a meal as she is coeliac, so needs to eat gluten free, and we saw lots of good reports on gluten free options there. It was so good we have now been back 2 more times. The waiters have all been really clued up on gluten free and coeliac requirements and the food has been really enjoyable for all of us. Lovely traditional inn with loads of character. Will definitely be back next time we visit her.

Congratulations to all those who were responsible for the restoration of this fabulous pub for the village. We are so glad we visited and were very impressed by what you've achieved! Your staff are really lovely too! Well done! 👏.

Stopped at the pub for a drink and a roast dinner. Lovely outdoor garden with beautiful views. Staff were all very friendly and polite. The food was fantastic, arguably the best roast dinner I’ve had and our waiter Louis was lovely, polite and provided us with a brilliant and prompt service. Highly recommend coming here for a drink and Sunday roast

Very nice and cosy atmosphere with the wood-burning fireplace lit in very charming seventeenth-century rooms. Very tasty food and particularly kind service. There are all the conditions to want to return soon! Highly recommended

Another dreamboat roast at the packhorse, love this place and the team! Served by Louis who was a total gem, nothing was too much trouble for him. Will be back again for sure 👌🏼

First time here for evening dining. Made very welcome on arrival and seated quickly. Water was brought to our table and drinks order taken. The staff were so friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and the food was great. A lovely evening was had. Thankyou

Nothing negative to say. Would recommend it on almost every level. One star down as beef tough, as topside often is. I even asked if it was tender which was rather naive! Would have chicken another time.

Visitors from the south east of England were thrilled to find the Packhorse.

Fantastic cooking in a beautiful country pub, so close to the city. Felt really cosy on a wintery evening, with a fire and room for our dog.

Had an amazing meal here on Saturday evening. The service was impeccable, the food outstanding and the pub itself is stunning. Highly recommended

Good pub. Would be better if it had gluten free beer!

We visited on a weekday lunchtime as it marked the halfway point of a circular walk from Midford. It was the second time we have dropped by on a lunchtime. There is a warm and friendly welcome and everything is refreshingly informal. I had steak and wild mushroom pie, my friend had fish and chips. We both thought our food was excellent. I must say my poor was sensational. Nice selection of local drinks too. Highly recommended. We will definitely be visiting again.

Lovely community owned and historic pub. Atmospheric and friendly. Hard to fault.

It's been too long since paying a visit to this wonderful, community-owned pub. This time, we took both our neighbours. Great to bump into and chat with James (manager) again. As usual, experience was superb. Staff full of praise for the new chef and clean plates returned from all 5 of us.

Had 2 course roast dinner for 26 people yesterday following interment of my mother's ashes. Had large room upstairs to ourselves.Food amazing!! Large selection of vegetables, large portions , well presented & excellent waiting staff.From the outset organisation & communication with Diana was faultless, nothing ever too much trouble. It was a very memorable day thoroughly enjoyed by all THANK YOU!!

Absolutely banging 400 year old pub. A real old gem. Staff are extremely welcoming. Open fires in every room.

Fantastic pub, great community vibe and excellent food - what's not to like! Totally able to cater for my husband's gluten free dietary requirements as well.

Family and dog friendly 16th century gem of a pub. Open wood burning 🔥 fire always lit in cold weather and large well kept garden open in warmer times. Very friendly staff with a lovely choice of local drinks and quality food.

I wasn't feeling my best when I visited. The serving staff were great and were happy to accommodate my request for grilled fish instead of battered. It was very busy and we asked to vacate our table to allow for the next party. We adjourned to the other bar for our coffees etc A pleasant evening all told.

This is the first time I have been to the Pack horse for many years since it has been refurbished. But what was shocking to me the price of the food. I had a burger the bread was quite dry and it fell apart while I was trying to eat it becoming very messy and not enjoyable I’m assuming the bread was frozen can’t be sure. But what really shocked me was the prices of the main courses which did not come accompanied with any sites they were extra which would’ve made the meal anything up to £40. But the real shocker I bought some bread for a side order four pieces of bread £5 come on really. £1.25 per slice. I would’ve been embarrassed to ask for these prices but I was also embarrassed to say no as I was out for a birthday meal any other time I would’ve left. The food didn’t justify the cost by a long way

First visit and was very impressed with the overall atmosphere and cheerful staff. Thank you.

Wonderful location excellent service by smiley young lady. Food was excellent and worth the money. Will have to come back for lunch to appreciate the surroundings more.

Local Honey's cider is knock out : )

Unfortunately we went 20 minutes before the pub closed at 5.40pm, so I don't have much to say apart from the place and garden being beautiful. I wish the staff had informed us they were about to close before we placed our order.

Nice old community run pub retaining loads of original character. 3 ales on tap.

Lovely, old-school pub with friendly atmosphere and nice garden.

Good quality food in a nice location. Sunday roasts are always good Service in the restaurant is efficient and attentive.

We had a really lovely time, our waiters, Alex and Louis were excellent, very attentive, and gave good recommendations. History of the pub was very interesting too! Definitely will return!

So comfortable and cozy Food was delish and the staff was very helpful

Fantastic pub, stunning setting, great food and 5 star service! would 100% recommend.

Great pub - history by the spades indoors, charm by the buckets out in the garden. Great staff too.

Amazing service by all the staff. Good choice of food on the menu, especially main courses

02/09/23 Edit - I'm sad to say that I'm having to revise my previous review of The Packhorse and dropping it by a *. We have been for dinner and lunch a handful of times in last last few months, and where we used to be confident in the comfort that we would be getting a great meal that ticked all the boxes, it seems something has drastically changed in the quality of the food that is coming out now in comparison to this time last year. We had hoped this may have been a 'blip', but it's clear this just isn't the case. Examples - Pies underfilled (1 small piece of meat), batter on fish anemic with size of fish significantly reduced in size, portions of chips with no potato in them, overcooked chicken, different garnishes provided on the same dishes. The portion sizes are also noticeably reduced compared to what they used to be. I really hope the kitchen and management see this and can improve going forward, as it would be a shame for us not to want to come here to eat any longer considering everything else that is still so great about this pub. ———————————— Everything about this pub is done so well, from the food (quality and portions are fantastic), to the setting which is what you would call a traditional country pub (but a lovely one at that). Staff are excellent and very accommodating. Can't fault them. We have spent many a summers evening here with our dog (they are very dog friendly), and can easily say it is our favorite pub in Bath.

I've always loved this pub which is run by locals. Always helpful staff and well kept real ale. Charming garden at the rear. Don't spoil the village by driving here, try and walk.

It's a beautiful place and the staff are very friendly

Amazing place love the atmosphere ❤️ mother lived here with her husband George and her sister shilla & colin who ran the pub in the early 90s🍺🍺

Truly disappointing. The reviews were so positive, came for a family celebration. Ordered olives, got vinegary tinned ones with red pepper. Can move past that- the breaded prawns were OK. The mains: chicken burgers with chipotle mayo came without chipotle mayo, while the accompanying 'House salad' was just a few bits of chopped leaves in dressing. But the bouillabaisse! On the menu with pollock and shellfish and crostini, the bowl emerged half filled with tomato/fish soup, with no pollock at all, some nifty spoonwork discovering just a few tiny homeless mussels and one squid ring, and instead of crostini (white crusty bread brushed with olive oil) some toasted supermarket loaf. For the thick end of £20 it was really sad. It went back to the kitchen to claim some pollock and came back with some submerged small bits of the tail end of what seemed like haddock. A country mile from the classic tomato, fennel, leeks, with a generous pile of white chunky fish of several kinds, shellfish in shells and maybe a splash of anise. The server was charming and apologetic, acknowledging the kitchen was underperforming, scratched the Bouillabaisse and offered desserts. One dessert remained on the bill, as did the service. £83. Good historic building though and I can imagine a great evening for drinks.

Alex was an excellent server and enhanced our experience with his happy, friendly demeanour. 😀

Thank you, Louie, and the staff for their amazing hospitality, always checking in on us, and the brilliant food.

What a brilliant pub! Oozes history and tradition, set in a stunning village location. Food was superb and service excellent. We were well looks after by Alex who made us feel very much at home This place rocks!

Always great service, v clean, lovely garden.

Hidden away gem, very nice staff, service, food and a lovely setting.. what more is needed. Could be closer to Portsmouth 🙄 I guess.

Great food. Poor service, twice waiter walked off while I was talking to him. Previous visits have had really good service.

Lovely pub food and drinks - great friendly welcome and excellent service - thank you!

Louis served us today he was absolutely amazing so cheerful and the roast beef was fabulous 👏 we will definitely visit again.

Such a beautiful place. Had the best beef roast I have had in years! We were waited on by a gentleman called Louis. Please look out for him if you go in, he is such a wonderful chap and very efficient! Thank you for a lovely experience today :)

Had a fantastic gluten free roast on Sunday. Absolutely lovely. Staff are amazing and we were served by a very nice guy called Louis. Thank you for a fab lunch.

Enjoyed the best roast at The Packhorse today. Staff were lovely, Louis was our server and he was very welcoming and accommodating! A**** to Louis! Will definitely be returning

A trip to the Packhorse is NEVER a bad thing. On a sunny May afternoon in the sunshine a glass doesn't last for long. We want more ..

Lovely community owned pub. 1st time of being there, great food, friendly service. Garden out back was nice with great views, good sun trap. Will definitely be back.

Great community pub. Great walking around the area too

Lovely dinner at the coronation. Lewis treated us well. Cheers Lewis!

Stunning views, large landscaped garden, lovely olde-pub feeling, community/share-holder owned for what it's worth. Staff were friendly and a good selection of drinks on offer including alcohol-free options. They had live music and a taco van out front on our visit. A very welcome stop after cycling up the killer hills.

What a fabulous find came over a brow of a hill and saw this old house that was saved by the locals and turned into a fantastic gastro pub, food was excellent and the staff were attentive and informative. Highly recommended

Lovely pub, great food, friendly service. Prices are good too with £15 for 1 or £18 for 3 courses. The starters we had (both the chicken goujons and mackerel pâté) were especially nice. Lovely sunny garden, great place to stop for lunch on our walk.

This is an excellent traditional pub. Beautiful location, really decent food and nice staff. It is community owned and run so there is a real sense of care and pride.

Great service staff were brilliant, and we all enjoyed the 4 different meals we had.

Had beer battered fish chips . The batter was soggy the chips was burnt , had better meals from chip shop , not worth money . Won’t be rushing back to have meal here again .

Just finished a lovely Sunday Roast and Pudding. We enjoyed it that much we are back for Burns night!!

Lovely pub, delicious food, friendly people (staff and customers)

First time back in the area for about 15years and wonderful to see the pub thriving. Food was first class and the team there were outstanding. Thanks so much! 🙏

Very good good food and nice place. heartwarming welcome for French family like us

Wow. What a quirky, beautiful pub! Community owned and the food was good too! Really enjoyed it. Be back.

Parmesan truffle chips ….so damn good man!!!

Cool place outside of the hustle and bustle of bath. Very old and historic. Nice big fireplace as well as outdoor seating. Worth the short drive from Bath!

Well run ,like dogs as great walking area

Good effort in this community pub. Delightful staff and management. Our late booking time meant that the meal lacked that freshness which early diners get. Appearance of meal was nice but trying to deal with the roast beef was difficult, we just couldn't cut it. Probably reheated in microwave not sure. Staff kindly changed our meal to pork instead and it was OK, if a bit dry. Other younger members of our party valiantly managed to progress through the beef with determination. Nice pub and location but roadside parking a nightmare when the small pub car park is full. I think we just hit a bad patch as far as timing was concerned. Pub was full to bursting when we arrived si it must be good.

My favourite pub! Lovely staff, great food, good music and interesting events (the apple pressing last Sunday was fun as always) - and great recommendations on local walks. A very special place.

Food was great staff were very helpful all around Nice experience .