Anyone travelling on the A38 between Taunton and Exeter, or on the M5 which is close by, and…read morelooking for a place to stop would be well advised to call in at 'The Poachers Pocket'. This is a really good pub which also has good food and doubles as a small hotel. The beer, food and rooms are all excellent; the landlord and staff are welcoming and the locals friendly. Having stayed there yesterday, I can also vouch for the quality, variety and quantity of the breakfast which was a great starter for the day. There's only very quiet background music and a small television in the bar, but there is free Wi-Fi for those who need it. Residents have access to a small but comfortable lounge if they wish to relax outside of both their rooms and the bar. There's plenty of parking, both in front and at the rear of the pub via an archway, and a small patio and grassy area at the rear. There's a website at http://www.poacherspocket.co.uk for those who are interested in investigating further or arranging a visit. I'll certainly be going back.

Welcome to the Castle Hotel at Taunton. This historic Norman fortress has witnessed over 9…read morecenturies of turbulent history. In 1685 the Duke of Monmouth's officers gathered here on the eve of the Battle of Sedgemoor, where they were defeated by the forces of King James II. The infamous Judge Jeffries held his Bloody Assize in the Great Hall of the castle shortly afterwards. Over 200 rebels from the Monmouth Rebellion were tried, convicted and then hanged, drawn and quartered. A further 800 were transported to the West Indies to work on the sugar plantations. The building we see today is a Grade II listed, 18th century reconstruction of the original Norman castle, but does incorporate the original east gate, Castle Bow, which boasts 13th century features.

Where to begin! Staying here was a highlight of my recent, and first trip to England. I was coming…read moreto do some family history work at the archives in Taunton, as well as visit Glastonbury Tor. When I read this was an actual castle with medieval beginnings, I was immediately drawn in. Then I visited their website and read a few reviews and I booked it! It's a unique experience to say the least. Coming through the front, revolving door had an old world charm that was very welcoming (even though I snagged my luggage). The front desk staff were all super friendly, accommodating, and professional. The room was huge! I don't know how I ended up with a suite but I certainly did not book it nor pay extra so, the only conclusion is they upgraded me because it was available? No matter, I was in awe! I cannot recommend this place enough, it's a castle! Unforgettable.

Overnight I've become a huge fan of this chain of budget hotels which I only discovered by accident…read morewhen surfing the internet. Vastly superior to Travelodges though sometimes almost as cheap, or even cheaper when they offer special deals (three nights for the price of two, etc). The rooms are clean, spacious and comfortable, with plenty of storage and a superior standard of furniture and fittings. Our room had a telephone, large flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities with lots of teabags, hot chocolate and fresh biscuits each day. In addition to the large bed was a plush two-seater settee. The en-suite had a large power shower and, again, the tiling and fittings were of a high standard for a budget hotel. There's a modern lift to rooms (very good disabled access), beautiful carpets and curtains, and a foyer with local information and a sweets and chocolate machine. Breakfast came free with the room rate and was served across a short walkway in the Jack Rabbit pub. It consisted of a continental-style buffet with an excellent choice of cereals, fruit juices, fresh fruit, yoghurt, breads, toast, preserves and croissants. A machine provided good quality teas or coffees. You can eat as much as you wish and there are helpful staff on hand to assist if need be. A free newspaper (Daily Mail) was also available each day. All in all, a superb value package at only £89 for 3 nights (the special offer this month)! Certainly a chain to watch - there are 200 branches around the country and more planned.

Fantastic castle resort set amidst acres of beautiful English countryside. Stunning location…read more While we were there for the NYE package (our activities might not be the norm year round), there were plenty of activities to keep us busy including archery, table tennis, clay pidgeon shooting, hiking, practice putting area, driving range, full 18 hole championship golf course, spa, indoor pool ( with sauna and steam room), afternoon cream tea, falconry event (bird exhibition including a very cool owl), live music, and fancy course dinners. Pros: 1. Beautiful castle with great sitting rooms on the main floor. 2. Wonderful cream tea every afternoon. Delicious scones and jam and tea. Wonderful loose teas. 3. Beautiful golf course. 4. Attentive staff and some were exceptionally friendly. 5. David-the ex sommelier and now the events manager-was fantastic. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his wine knowledge. Great guy. 6. Room turn down service. 7. Gorgeous indoor pool. 8. On location spa with many treatment options. Cons would be the following: 1. Secluded location means you pretty much do everything at the hotel. No option to walk to other options...but you can pretty easily drive into town (we didn't explore this option). Some might say the remote location is a Pro. 2. One dining room option can get a bit boring for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Decent food but not fantastic and the food was not consistently good over the course of 3 days. 3. Older style rooms. 4. Our room, number 40, had a great view but the window was a bit small and then ceilings were a bit low. 5. Central heating means the room can get hot and there's not way to change the temp other than to open the window. 6. We had incorrect charges on our final bill....but they easily removed the charges without any argument. 7. Our hallway to our room often smelled like food. Wasn't a pleasant smell.

It is one of my favorite places that we stayed at during our trip around England. Set in a…read morepicturesque park (Dartmoor National Park) in southwest England, in a region called Devon. It is the epitome of a country retreat! Fantastic service from the moment you step in to the you check out. The classic double guest room is very comfortable, roomy enough to spread out. The room was always stocked with bottled water and milk in the mini fridge, as well as fresh healthy snacks of nuts, dried apricots, and fresh strawberries. They provide you with luxury brand name toiletries. Lots of fresh clean towels as well as robes and slippers. There is internet access in the room through a cable - no wifi in the area at all! Lots of public rooms for guests to sit and relax and enjoy a drink or afternoon tea which we did and it was absolutely delightful! The hotel has two restaurants to offer guests. The Edwardian, serving up contemporary British cuisine, and the Castle Bistro serving up foods like pizzas and burgers although i had the leg of lamb and that was just amazing!! The food at the Edwardian was okay. The food at the Castle Bistro was better. The hotel also has a spa, which we didn't use but we did use their pool and sauna/steam rooms. There are changing rooms at the pool as well as showers for the guests. The pool is indoors but looks out to the park - gorgeous views. Bovey Castle also has a golf course for those who like golf. There are also lots of other activities like fishing, tours of the area, falconry, and gin making. I highly recommend it if you can afford it. I can't wait to return!!

Ah, Ashwick House. What a delight…read more I hadn't been to Exmoor before, and so was very excited as we weaved our way through its treasure trove of villages, bound for Dulverton. Then we took a turn on to the moor, across a cattle grid, down a single track road, and past the Exmoor Pony Centre. In a wooded Coombe lay Ashwick House, an old shooting lodge tastefully refurbished into a very comfortable country house hotel. The first good point about this hotel became evident immediately - the host came out to meet and greet us with an easy, relaxed air. Staying at Ashwick House feels more like staying with some friends for the weekend, but in luxurious comfort. The host and hostess are very friendly, but also allow you enough privacy to enjoy your weekend. The balance is perfect. When you enter the house you'll encounter the main hall - very much the central room. A grand hall for a grand house, but still cosy enough to enjoy your evening drink in. It also has a very good collection of oriental furniture which manages to blend perfectly with the age and atmosphere of the house. We were then shown to our room. Nicely decorated and a newly refurbished bathroom. I was particularly pleased to see that there was a small fridge in the corner meaning we had been given fresh milk in a jug. (I can't stand those horrible plastic pots of milk.) You have the option to dine in at Ashwick house, and I would strongly recommend trying this at once during your stay. The 5 (or is it 6) course menu is excellent, with a good selection each evening. The price is at the higher end of the scale, but I was perfectly happy to pay for the quality of the food. The chef is also happy to be adaptable, as proved when I asked for plain pasta pre-marathon! The breakfast was also very good. Homemade fruit compote and yoghurt, a selection of cereals and then the delicious full english. I've never seen a full english presented so well, and boy did it taste good! Slightly sad to see the absence of beans, but I think that's more my fault for not asking for them. Ashwick House made me realise the value of a weekend in a country house hotel. Not something I've done that much, but I have now made a mental note to indulge myself in the future. I think I'll definitely be returning to enjoy this magnificent area of the West Country. (I haven't mentioned any of the history of the house, as I'll let you enjoy discovering this when you stay!)

Follow the river,cross the cattle grid : where were we going as we followed the directions across…read moreExmoor to Ashwick House ? It turned out the directions were as well thought out and attentive to detail as Ashwick House itself. The house,beautiful in its individuality and graceful in its decor was at the same time comfortable and welcoming. A nice touch: the host came out to greet us as we arrived and later showed us around some of the private rooms. The food was excellent;the menu varied and we particularly enjoyed sitting in the hall before the wood burning stove savouring the first drink of the evening whilst hearing from our host and hostess about the history of the house. We did not see the red deer this time but we'll be back to this special place

this is my local pub and it is one of the best pubs in england…read more the food is the best and the b&b rooms are nice. the service is excellent and the landlord is very friendly

Attended here for a wedding and it was absolutely fabulous. Wonderful decor, amazing food with good…read moreportion sizes and wonderful members of staff! Would definitely recommend!

A quality hotel!, good food, rooms quality. A decent pint and wine on offer. Friendly staff and…read morereasonable room rates.

The Hotel Riviera in Sidmouth, East Devon, is a smart hotel with a genteel old-fashioned feel about…read moreit. The service is great, the pace is slow and you feel you have stepped back in time. Enjoy a coffee on the terrace overlooking the beach or enjoy a delicious meal in the restaurant. Sidmouth is an old Georgian/Victorian resort, completely unspoilt, and the Riviera Hotel has a wonderful ambiance which is often lacking in today's modern world.

This place was really nice! Overall I liked it a lot. The staff was friendly and the food was…read moregreat, especially for a hotel! They were really accommodating and the grounds were just gorgeous! The hotel is located right on the sea in the town of Sidmouth. It was a perfect beachy location and the town in super cute with bunting everywhere. The beaches are rocky instead of sandy which is completely foreign to me but I guess that's how the beaches are there. My observation however was that they definitely prefer an "older"crowd which tended to be crabby and openly snarky, which made me feel like I was staying in the world's nicest nursing home hahaha.

Absolute fantastic stay. The hotel is in a great position right on the sea front. If you have a…read morebedroom with a sea view that would definitely be a bonus. The hotel takes pride in it's service, you have to wear a jacket and tie to the evening meals, not used to that, but it was great fun. All the staff are helpful and friendly. Rooms are nice and have everything you need for a good stay. They have good facilities as well including an indoor and outdoor pool and spa. Overall the stay was great and I think we may be going back next year.