Virginia Ash in South Somerset

Awful not as nice as it looks from the outside. Sticky tables cold coffee stopped to meet friends...won't be returning. Gruby and seen better days.

🤢Arrived to the smell of sewage in the entrance hall - the pub was too cold to take a coat off and we were shown to a table by the fire which was not lit. Told it would create too much smoke. The starter was really nice. The Turkey with all the trimmings turned up plated and floating in gravy. The amount and quality of the turkey was shameful - sliced so thin, it looked like something out of a sandwich filler pack. The peas were like bullets, the red cabbage was bitter, the parsnips were absolutely black. The roast potatoes were good as were the carrots but all this was not what was expected for £29.95. We complained about the parsnips, were offered replacements which was then withdrawn as they would take 20 minutes. Offered some chips instead, really! The coffee and mince pie were actually perfect but then I suspect it was a pod and bought in pies. Bitterly disappointed.

Interminable wait for distinctly below average meal . My first ever one star rating.

Christmas dinner party and there were at least 2 other parties there too. Staff were lovely. Food ok only critisism was my parsnip wasnt cooked enough, but considering they were catering for 50+ people I think they did very well. Thank you for a very enjoyable evening. Just 1 more thing..... please wipe the tables with something that does not leave a sticky residue.

it the second time we have been, the food is very good , a good plate full as well. very clean and staff are happy and friendly . Worth stopping for ...Mr Stow. !!

It's a pub that serves perfectly decent food. But it's not a "gastro-pub" (whatever that is). You can go in and be sure to get a moderately good meal for a moderate price. Nothing fancy. No pretentions of being anything it isn't. Just a country pub catering for a decent honest local clientele. And that's a worthwhile and valuable service I appreciate.

Popped in for dinner this evening on the way home. The bar staff were lovely very friendly and accommodating. We had the mixed grill and Chicken Tikka. Wow is all I can say. The portion sizes were huge , food was fresh hot and very tasty. My partner fancies himself as a mixed grill king and he said this was the nicest he had ever had . I loved the curry there was so much chicken , hot fluffy rice and a lovely soft nan bread presented beautifully. We will definitely be returning very soon . Great value for money , lovely little pub , good food and lovely staff.

Loved this restaurant, excellent food at fair prices - main courses £16 - £20 ( steak slightly higher) The food was excellent. If I was being picky I'd say more choc sauce on the profiteroles. Steaks, sea bass, linguini and lasagne could not be faulted!! Panna cota was lovely as was the cheesecake - portion size on the latter was a bit on the small side. Friendly service and lovely atmosphere. We'll be back!!

Great food and great staff. And was dog friendly. Food was great.

Four of us stopped for a meal. We had not booked but this was not a problem. Service was quick and attentive despite the fact that it was 5pm on a Saturday. All four of us were very pleased with our meals. I had a beef lasagne, probably the largest one I have ever had and it was very enjoyable. We will definitely call again. We'll done to all the staff!

Had lunch with a group of people. Great service, lovely food.

We decided to pop in for a drink and finished up having scampi and chips followed by Eton mess. The food was excellent and the staff were helpful, friendly and very efficient.

Myself and 2 friends chose a ploughmans costing £15 each, This consisted of 3 slices of white baton bread maximum 50mm in diameter approx 15mm thick, 2 pats of butter, a slice of quite greasy ham, 2 thin slices of cheddar cheese, 2 pickled onions, spoonful of nondescript salad and a small jar of chutney, This is the worst value for money and presentation ever for a ploughman's lunch and a complete rip off, I estimate the bread content amounted to 12p, based on a complete baton 200mm long costs 50p The first time in my experience that the butter content overwhelmed the quantity of bread, Never again !

Always our go to place to celebrate or just enjoy a night out.

The Sunday Carvery was the best. We booked a table the staff were very attentive . The carvery was the best i have had. Food was fantastic , a great variety of roast meats and super vegs to compliment. All staff were engaging and it was a most satisfying and most enjoyable visit. The price of the Carvery was great. Will be back from Kingston upon Thames. Many thanks.

Staff very friendly,,, Sunday carvery was brilliant,,, definitely go back again.

Decided to have a break from cooking, so I booked for 3 of us to have Sunday carvery here! It was absolutely lovely, I would definitley recommend the Panna cotta! that was such a refreshing delight after a lovely lunch.

All about the surroundings really. Just so relaxing. The food and drinks are what you'd expect , very good quality.

Fantastic on the day carvery visit ..

My chicken Caesar salad this evening consisted of a bowl of lettuce smothered/drowned in Caesar dressing with a small narrow piece of chicken on the top. There was no croutons or any additional food items. Just a bowl of lettuce. I couldn't even finish the lettuce as the dressing was just too over powering. When I stated I was not very impressed I was offered a free drink in compensation, instead accepted the 10% discount offered. But a bowl of smothered dressing and a j20 was 18 Pounds. I will not be going back and will never recommend The Ash as a place to eat.

Email address in review comment bounces back

Warm welcome, hot food and plenty of it, and a great price.

My partner and I called in to The Virginia Ash for lunch and I ordered the macaroni cheese. It was the worst macaroni cheese I have ever had; it was flavourless and dry and, having eaten a third of it, I couldn’t eat any more. When I asked the waiter for our bill, I explained to him that I hadn’t been able to eat the meal because of the poor quality and I asked if I could pay a reduced price. I was told that this was not possible. On settling the bill at the bar, I again informed the staff member that it was inedible only to be told that meal was due to be taken off of the summer menu shortly. I am not sure what the relevance was of her comment but I ended up paying for a meal I could not eat so will not be going there again.

Popped in here whilst travelling back from Devon. Warm welcome. Great Menu Choice. Sensibility Priced. Good Service. What more could one ask for? Scampi comes highly recommended, especially with their unique Mushy Peas.

I went with 12 other people, for a group meal,at 1pm. My first time in the pub. A mixture of meals,or light bites we had. All served very well, and organised by staff.

Very happy and friendly staff, and nice food. Big carpark.

Good food, good service and nice atmosphere, thank you.

Visited for my mother’s birthday and the service was excellent and food was lovely

Lovely good and atmosphere 😀 Dog friendly and gluten free/veggie option. The only downside is the nut roast is massive and a bit soggy. But it tastes good.

So nice to be able to sit in the garden for lunch didn't fancy carvery so ordered scampi and chips and mushy peas scampi and chips excellent but the mushy peas were stone cold such a shame if we were inside would of returned them no one came out to garden and to be honest couldn't be bothered to walk into bar with them so I left mine friend ate hers cold! Did mention when our plates were cleared

Absolutely amazing food and friendly staff.

Lovely meal . Quite close to home, so that's a bonus!

Not bad, not great. Moderately good food. Your basic pub grub. Though mainly cooked to a good standard, it's not high standard & the price per meal does not reflect the standard.

Lovely spacious pub, welcoming landlady, good food. We visited on three consecutive days and enjoyed a good lunch on each occasion, Highly recommended.

Wonderful pub and great atmosphere. Food is awesome and staff are polite and good at their job. Sunday lunch is also excellent.

Great restaurant area. Great food, great beer. Also, our dog was really spoiled. 😊 Highly recommended.

We called to have a Sunday lunch, having eaten there many times. Unfortunately, we left before ordering due to being served two rounds of sour and undrinkable real ales (Stone Daisy 'Park Bottom'). The bar staff believed the beer was okay and agreed to replace the first round of drinks. Having tasted the second round of beers Butcombe 'Original'), we all agreed that the drinks were no better and left.

A lovely pub restaurant with a family feel and ample parking. Meals may not be the cheapest but you get what you pay for and I personally can't fault any of the meals I've had here. (I don't think they are expensive either.) Hosting staff are lovely but sometimes they are like buses whereby none are around and then you get three at once! Well worth a visit but booking advised as they can get busy.

8ox burger and chips and a drink at lunch time midweek for about £20. Tasty and ample size. Nice atmosphere, some good big tables if you are in a large group.

Seems a nice pub, just called in briefly to break up a journey! Option of real ales, which I always look for and the restaurant looked inviting.

Today I had the hunters chicken and my aunt had a bbq pulled pork burger. Very generous portions and a tasty 10/10 meal.

Lovely atmosphere and super dog friendly (see photo). They made our boy feel right at home with a chair, some water (not the pint of Doom Bar), and some treats. Us humans also were spoilt with a delicious burger!

has improved a lot certainly worth a visit for food and drink

Allways good ,Christmas meal brilliant

Have passed the Virginia Ash many times and thought we would stop for lunch . I would like to say the staff were polite , friendly and efficient - an absolute asset to your establishment. Unfortunately , it was the meal that let it down . We ordered beer battered cod and chips with onion rings as a side order. The chips were completely over cooked as were the onion rings to the point they were dark brown , crunchy and rock hard - both were inedible. I literally tried a couple of my over cooked hollow chips , one mouthful of my luke warm mushy peas and didn't eat the rest of my meal -leaving an uneaten plate of food.Unfortunately , we both left feeling just as hungry as we did on arrival at the Virginia Ash . I do believe in supporting local businesses , so if we were to return I would maybe try ordering a different dish next time .

Was served by a person who was quite clearly under the age to be serving alcohol as he was always asking his mother who was also working what this was and what that was Was at least six people drinking time was 2130 all sat down and a group of lads stood at the bar the bar maid started to close down the bar we were told the pub was closing up So we and the others sat down finished our drinks and headed for the door time 2150 the group of lads stayed in the pub as the doors were locked behind us Disgusting way to run a business Will report the minor serving alcohol Tomorrow

Had set Christmas meal seemed readymade,service was slow

Fantastic carvery meat vegetables all very flavoursome brilliant service a very warm welcoming pud would recommend to all for a a fantastic meal that is very well priced .well done to you all.

Great place, friendly staff good food.

Excellent food and plenty of it.Great value for money, excellent staff.

Had the carvery which is in the wrong spot in the pub directly in front of the front door people queueing for food in the way of people coming and going Was given a menu which stated lamb beef pork or turkey No lamb no turkey only early???? Beef was well over cooked and the pork dry roasted potatoes were hard cauliflower cheese was under cooked and had a very runny sauce red cabbage was four bits in the bottom of the dish gravy was tasteless It's Sunday lunch you know what you are going to cook your meats are the main on the plate so get it right And what you are advertising on the menu needs to be there or at least tell your customers And if you can't veggies then you're kitchen staff needs to be looked at The waiting staff were all very nice and polite and provided a good service

Food was awful . Potatoes , parsnips so hard I could not cut them .Sprouts were mushy …..would NOT recommend !

Got drinks and sat at bar. Lovely atmosphere and friendly staff greeted warmly. Decided to have a light bite to eat so moved to a table, got a menu. Food choices very good and well priced. Everyone's food looked lovely. Shame we sat there for 45 mins and didn't get our order taken. Asked 2 waiting staff to come back after dropping off plates/food but they didn't come back. I will say it was busy and had Christmas party's in, but didn't feel like enough waiting staff.

Just had sunday lunch wow really good

been lots of times. must of changed hands or chef,food was awful sent soup back. chicken katsu was disgusting tasted if vinegar

Unfortunately our visit was not a pleasant experience. I went with friends and we have visited a number of times previously with no issues but something has changed, either new owners or new chef! We ordered soup to start and we’re presented with a bowl of bland leeks, which had to be returned due to being inedible! A few of us ordered the Katsu curry for main, which arrived looking extremely unpleasant and definitely not like Katsu curry’s I have had previously. The taste was overwhelmed with vinegar and very bitter. They were totally inedible. Another friend ordered the vegetable lasagne which came out looking like dried mush where it had been blasted in the microwave within a inch of its life, had no taste and was as flat as a pancake! I would recommend this place for food, although I will say, the young waitress was very pleasant and accommodating.

We had a really good Sunday lunch with home made pudding. Really good value carvery and desert. We will be booking again soon

Nice friendly place for drink or food.. Nice staff

My daughter and I arranged to meet at the Virginia Ash because I had eaten here once before and it was good. However, despite not being particularly busy we waited almost an hour for our food. When we complained we were told the kitchen was very busy. Just after our food finally arrived another couple ordered and received their food in less than ten minutes! The food was mediocre. Cold and the veg was uncooked. We won’t be returning .

We literally saw the sign for the Victoria Ash at the junction next to it and decided to have lunch. BIt was a Sunday so it was very busy but we had a lovely meal and if we're ever that way again we visit again. Very nice atmosphere altogether very glad we stopped that day. Would recommend to anyone 😊😊

Well decided to go as heard about the carvery and I was very very disappointed about it 👎 basically when your paying 15 quid ahead for it you expect good food and that wasn't the case . The roast potatoes wasn't crispy like you would expect, they were dry and it was like cutting through leather 😮also most of the parsnips wasn't cooked so still hard. Also the service was poor and had to call someone to clear plates up and ask for my grandchildrens ice-cream that should of come with their meals. Overall wasn't impressed and won't be going back. P.s just read your reply and thankyou for taking the piss as I'm dyslexic 😡no I wasnt that family I'm afraid I was with my partner,my daughter and her partner with my two grandchildren.if that's the way you act towards your customers then good luck with future bookings.

Great food great everything really, just a note to owners/ management get sharper knives for customers, great cooking of carvery meats but knifes make it difficult to enjoy . The only reason I gave 4 stars.

First time here, stopped for some food. Not disappointed, it was lovely. Reasonable price, fast service, tasty food. Will definitely return.

Fantastic carvery the best sweet I glhave ever had Belgium waffle strawberry ice cream grated white chocolate with white chocolate drizzled over the top.would recommend to all

Lovely food first time of going there definitely recommend lamb was quite tuff to cut through

Who ever has taken over knows what they are doing. Friendly and attentive staff and the food is of a very high standard. In fact lovely food! We will absolutely be coming here again and the prices are reasonable. Can’t rate them enough. Thank you for a fantastic lunch yesterday 🥰

Really enjoyd an evening here, big place, comfy seating, tasty food we had the chicken madras and cesear salad, great service to (the Bristol girl was friendky, profesional and helped with GF choices we wish other places could be as good)

Great food, fantastic service and a lovely atmosphere.

Food was amazing on our first visit. Staff were very friendly too. The interior was nice . Would definitely recommend this pub.

Booked a table for six had a good evening staff wear friendly and food & drinks we enjoyed thoroughly 😀 👍 👌

We had a small gathering for my daughters 1st birthday and it was a perfect setting. We had food and drinks from the lunch menu and the team made us feel welcome. Would highly recommend.

Brilliant rest stop on my motorcycle journey from Plymouth to London. I had a generous portion of Halloumi chips with a pint of soda water at the bar, just what I needed for the last 100 miles!

Excellent food Excellent service well done

We visited this week with family and had a great evening meal. There was a party of 6. Nice choice of beers & Ales, I had a 1963 that was very nice. Hope to go there again next time we visit family.

Just had my mums 80th surprise birthday lunch today...and it was amazing..regrettably I didn't get the young lady's name, but she was very helpful and kind. Nothing was too much trouble. Will be back soon thank you again..from Kim

Very clean, good meal, very friendly and helpful staff

Big old pub, geared towards food which is good quality but fairly standard pub grub. Decent carvery on a Sunday. Food and drinks are reasonably priced and everything served by nice friendly staff.

We have just been for a breakfast, all the food was beautiful and fresh and very high quality produce, the staff were very friendly and welcoming on arrival. When we had finished our breakfast and paid the bill we was given our receipt to take to the meat truck outside where we was given a free joint of beef.. 😋😋. Highly recommended to everyone as great value for money. Thank you Virginia Ash.

Went for a family lunch and to celebrate a belated birthday - whilst the setting is gorgeous, very homely and the food was great sadly the service was a huge let down. When we arrived we were met by a VERY YOUNG waiter, really nice boy but disorganised unfortunately. Took us to our table then handed us our knives and forks to hold whilst he cleaned the table as he'd not previously done it. Started to take our drinks order but half way through said he'd be back in a minute, after another 15 mins my partner went to the bar to order directly as the waiter seemed preoccupied with other duties. Unfortunately it didn't improve much after dinner we ordered desserts and again after an extensive wait we inquired how much longer they were going to be. Apparently they were ready in the kitchen and had been sitting waiting to be bought out. Such a shame because overall it would have been a really lovely lunch but the lack of professionalism with the waiting staff left us irritated and unlikely to return. As much as the young staff are very friendly and pleasant sadly I think they lack the ability to prioritise tasks.

Very nice food as always very recommended

Haven’t be to the V Ash for years. Really pleasantly surprised. Had to wait to be seated, but a lovely young lad called Oli (13)?, used his initiative and seated us, made sure we got our drinks with the meal and checked all was good for us while we were eating. Food was great (Carvery) and such a lovely atmosphere. I never usually write reviews, but this was well deserved.

They have recently started doing an all you can eat breakfast.. help yourself to what you wanted and all hot,

Eaten here three times in the past two months as it is conveniently halfway between my house and a friend's. The food varied between good and ok each time, but the service was consistently unwelcoming. Two of the three times we were having a drink after our meal and we're told that the pub was shutting up early and could we drink up. Serving staff were curt and not very friendly, we were not being any trouble.

Great food and drinks. Nice garden next to the road, to watch the cars and bikes go by!

very quiet, no atmosphere and your prices have gone through the roof. especially the wine prices. No; we will not be coming again.

Amazing Sunday carvery and delicious puddings.

Went for a club celebration of St George’s Day (a day late!). Choice from a very short fixed price menu but delicious food nevertheless. Great service and really good value. Will go back for a private meal.

Food was beautiful and staff were brilliant

nice place the staff were friendly, most of the food was good and the fries were lovely but the burgers were a bit rubbery. would go back but not have the burgers

An excellent meal in a lovely pub, a great evening had by our whole family

My wife and I Popped into the Virginia Ash last minute to grab a bite to eat. It's the first time we have been there for a while and can absolutely recommend. We were intially greeted by a polite and helpful member of staff, who took us to our table and took our drink order. We both went for the sirloin steak with blue cheese sauce, which was super tasty and cooked to perfection. Will definitely return and absolutely recommend.

Reasonable food for a reasonable price.Good service ,very down to earth and extremely helpful

Called into the Virginia Ash in Henstridge on a whim as we were passing have not been in for a few years the pub is quite large so they were able to fit us in the food was very good as was the service will call in again

Came to the VA today with Mum, the staff are always friendly and welcoming. Mum had the Plaice & Chips and I had the Chicken Curry Jacket Potato, you certainly get your monies worth, excellent food. It was a little chilly though but overall it was a great experience and will definitely be coming again. Thank you.

We were there for Mothers day lunch. Staff friendly and attentive. Enjoyable experience.

Went there for Mother's Day lunch on Sunday. Despite being incredibly busy all the staff were fantastic. They went out of their way to ensure our 95 yr old Mum had a clear passage to her table with her stroller, opening the (normally closed) front entrance especially for her and not expecting her to negotiate steps! We spoke to several members of staff through the time and all of them were brilliant. The lamb carvery was beautiful, tasty and fresh. Mum had Scampi and ate nearly all of it and it was a huge portion. Sisters had Spinach and Falafel burger and they loved it. Highly recommended, thank you.

Very welcoming and my dog enjoyed it too! Would definitely visit again. Maybe share a waffle next time as they were extremely filling, although very tasty !!

Lovely bit of food.nice pub nice people.def going back

Two of us went for lunch there and we both had steak, probably the worst steak I've ever eaten tough as old boots and when I was asked how my meal was I told them and they done nothing. Absolutely rubbish and I would advise people to go somewhere else

Good Sunday lunch. Better than expected from a roadside pub