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.

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.

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

My recent stay in Taunton was bittersweet, as I was in town for my brother's funeral. Having booked…read moreweeks in advance, my only request was for a quiet room. Unfortunately, I was assigned a room overlooking the parking lot dumpsters with a non-functional heater. Despite reporting the cold radiator, the staff simply told me to turn the dial up--which I had already done to no avail. The dining experience was also a letdown. While the presentation was an attempt at "Michelin-style," the £10 mullet portion was tiny and swimming in excessive herb oil, which was difficult to stomach after a long day of travel. On a positive note, the breakfasts were good, the location is convenient, and it served as a helpful meeting point for my family. If you stay here, I recommend double-checking that any special requests are actually communicated to the staff.

Lovely hotel with accommodating staff. After a long day of travel from Lodnon it was a short 5…read moreminute cab ride from the train station. It had a huge bath to decompress after the long day of travel. The attached pub was great with a good selection and a relaxing patio. The included breakfast was very good and checkout was very easy.

We've eaten here, twice, but never stayed as guests so this review will major on food and related…read moreservices. On both occassions the food we had was excellent. Combe House Hotel is rated (in 2009) by both Sawday's guide, The Michelin Guide and now Qype! Two years ago we went for a birthday lunch. We all had fish which was exquisite; fresh or smoked, crustacean or battered, raw or steamed - the results were flawless and the combinations of flavours and textures superb. Presentation was also a real 'wow'. More recently (New Year's Eve lunch - 31/12/2009) we were there for lunch again. We noted that the hotel had changed hands since we were last there. Service was polished as ever. We were shown to the bar, coats taken and hung up and a fire lit to make us welcome and warm. I opted for a whisky (Talisker) to start whilst others opted for Abbot Ale, a local bitter (light amber in tone and toasty in flavour). Our food orders were taken after due consideration of the menu (there were 6 starters, 6 mains and 6 desserts to choose from). I chose the sirloin steak, medium rare (a test for any competent chef). Two chose a salmon ciabatta, whilst two others opted for the meat platter (venison and boar salami, parma ham and a venison pate), the final member of our party opted for the seafood platter sans crustacea. The order was graciously taken. The order for a seafood platter without shellfish was, after due consultation with the person ordering it, bumped up to include more smoked mackerel than it might ordinarily have had by way of compensation. A nice touch. We were left to bask before the fire for a while and mingle with other guests who were staying at the hotel (none of whom had a bad word to say I might add). The arrival of our food was presaged by our being shown to our table. We had a large dining room with a long table and a 'retreating' area for coffee amply provided for with three plump sofas. The food was ushered in with minimal fuss but maximum effect. I've bever seen lettuce shaped quite like that! The flavours were excellent - my steak was moist and juicy but soft, as it should be! The chips were chunky and freshly cooked hunks of real potato, not refried and ready made chips. Salad was plentiful, fresh and dressed with a light mustard dressing. The salad was a key part of the meal not just a garnish. The meat platters were equally praised, with many 'mmmms' and 'aaaaahs'. The salmon ciabatta too was highly praised for it's quality. The sefood platter initially drew no comment; total silence whilst being consumed. Upon completion the verdict pronounced was a well satisfied 'excellent'. The dessserts were lovely, banana parfait and creme brulee. Each done to a tee and served with a delicious home-made vanilla ice cream (if you can't make good ice cream from the plentiful Somerset dairy herds' milk you're in trouble). It's always said that the mark of a good establishment is knowing what it does well and focusing on that rather than having a menu of 40 dishes done poorly. Combe House Hotel served us very well and proved that adage true. Access to all the main areas is on one floor with ramped access to the bar. The hotel is a long, trailing amalgam of buildings of many ages from the 16th through to 20th centuries and clings to a descending, wooded valley (or Combe) in the Quantock hills. There is some excellent walking country about these parts, Combe House Hotel would make for an excellent starting or finishing point. The guests we spoke too lauded the rooms and service (though we didn't stay, hence the focus on food which we did eat). Other services like loos, lounges and gardens were faultless.

I have stayed here several times with my parents as a stop off between Cornwall and Chester. The…read morequality of food is very good-which is just as well, as there's not much else within walking distance. The beds are always really comfortable and rooms warm. Noise does vary from room to room. I have found the decor very pleasing too, even in the single bed rooms. However, on this occasion, as there was a wedding on and the hotel full, my room wasn't as great-the enamel/coating of the bath has come away and I was afraid if I ran a bath it would leak through to my parents room below! I would suggest that if it doesn't matter when you go, check to see how busy it is, as most rooms are lovely, but if this had been my first visit I wouldn't have been that happy.

I love this travelodge as it holds sentimental memories for me. The actual hotel is a simple…read moretravelodge, yet I think that the service and the rooms are better than most other branches. The staff are really helpful and go the extra mile for you if you request extra pillows etc The security is really good on the doors as the hotel is based inside the service station itself. It is very cheap for a good quality travelodge.

Basic rooms, as promised, but veryu clean. Staff were very helpful and a credit to Travelodge.read more

The Walnut Tree prides itself on its food, and we were not disappointed. For the evening meal, the…read morebeef and yorkshire pudding were superb. Breakfast was cooked to perfection, and the rooms were spacious and clean. The staff were friendly and acommodating. As well as an inexpensive stopover, I would recommend this Hotel for a family party or reunion, as we did. Sit back, let someone else do the cooking, and relax.