The best restaurants in Mere Wiltshire South West

A very disappointing visit for a family Sunday carvery lunch. We had a phone call confirming our reservation 15 minutes prior to arrival to find ourselves waiting by the front of house member of staff whilst she tried to find our booking. We were stood waiting with 2 small children whilst she continued to explain she couldn’t find our reservation even though it wasn’t busy and eventually after going off to check with someone we were given a table. Our drink order came out wrong and then we were able to go and choose our food to find that it really wasn’t to the standard the Walnut tree had promised . The meat was cold and there was only red meat options, the meat had been carved so thinly in the kitchen then brought out and the gammon and pork was very fatty. I must say even Toby carvery have joints of meat they carve up for you and I had such expectation for the Walnut Tree. The potatoes were nice but the veg wasn’t great, the cauliflower cheese was like mush and there were 2 empty containers where they had obviously ran out of food. Over cooked sprouts no carrots, shredded cabbage and the red cabbage had whole cloves in it which wasn’t pleasant. and just cubed parsnip. The food was just warm but was saved by the hot gravy. We ordered 1 scoop of chocolate ice cream and when it came out we ordered another. After waiting 15 minutes we asked where the ice cream was it took another 5 minutes to come out and they forgot the chocolate sauce! We had a later reservation and it really wasn’t busy, We waited for someone to ask us if our food was ok but there was no service from what looked like a young team of staff. The owner was about but the average age was about 18 and we just felt we were left to fend for ourselves. We paid our bill and left no one even noticed.

Great friendly pub with good food.

Just off the A303 this restaurant is part of a new factory that makes brushes. There is a museum and shop and lovely restaurant offering a good range of meals. Somewhere different with easy access and parking. Well worth a try.

Stayed for a 2 nights great accommodation excellent food. Will definitely return polite staff great service.breakfast was included and a great choice for the start of a day. Also they are happy to serve small portions which I have had issues with in other establishments. Well done bell and crown.

It looks tight in this shop, but it does go back quite a way, with all the best quality fresh veggies. Seating for drinks is on high bar stools at the front of the shop, the coffee is excellent and the cake is to die for. I had a Bakewell slice, I'm drooling thinking about it, it was that great. The staff are all very good at customer service, and we browsed the shelves out of curiosity more than wanting anything, but its doubles up as a delicatessen as well as a green grocer with a coffee shop. Lots to be bought and enjoyed.

Good food. Limited selection. Fair price

We visited on 24th October. It was a reasonable day regarding the weather and Stourhead was busy. We called into the Spread Eagle at about 1.30pm. Positives - we got a table inside. It had been cleared but was sticky. Negatives- no vegetarian sandwiches on the menu. But to be fair I was offered ham cheese and chutney without the ham. My friend selected carrot and coriander soup. Both meals were awful. The soup was so diluted that it was tasteless. My brown bread was tasteless as was the awful processed cheese slice (who still uses these abominations?). Only the chutney had flavour. Final negative was that I was chased out of the pub and accused of not paying. I explained exactly how I had paid only to be greeted with a shrug and “ok I believe you” - like she didn’t! And on top of that they dare to add 10% service charge.

Evening meal treats once a month, it is expensive here, Gone are the days of a fish n chip supper for under £5. For two large dinners, it will cost £20+ Standard is excellent and freshly cooked, so be prepared to wait for it. Queues can be long, so go at a time it will be quieter, like a later tea time, 7 pm instead of 6 pm. The staff are very friendly

We stopped here by chance on route to somewhere else. Although the dining area was packed we were offered a table in a new conservatory area in the bar and we were glad to be there. We had a warm welcome and our drinks order was taken. Food was ordered a little while later and arrived quickly despite the kitchen being extremely busy with Christmas dinner orders. The food was excellent well cooked and presented and good portions. A very enjoyable lunch.

Second time visiting this pub but first time after new management. Went for a birthday party of a family member, the bar has a cozy old feel to it with many a drink on tap or in bottle. Then we were shown to our table (venue room), all set out to fine top standard. Our host Sarah was amazing; tending to orders, sorting drinks ,food the lot. Compliments to the chef for the food.

Great tea cakes! Plus a nice hot tasty chocolate drink after a walk up Castle Hill. Good choice of cakes and quaint surroundings suiting the village setting.

We arrived just before Xmas with high expectations. The joy of the season was in the air and we were looking forward to an exceptional and festive lunch at what we thought would be a high quality well run establishment. We were hugely disappointed from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. As we arrived, I made a discrete enquiry about getting a bottle of champagne for the table as we had a small celebration that warranted it. I was told by a deeply disinterested soul that they had no champagne. She didn’t even manage to lift herself from her recumbent position to deliver the news, but did mention they may have a bottle of prosecco somewhere. No interest, zero customer service, just a flat and drab response. Shortly, a waiter arrived to accompany us to out table for our celebratory Xmas lunch. As we passed the wide-open kitchen door, I could see rows of pre-prepared food on display and hear the noise and swearing coming from within. Why on earth does a busty restaurant, where things can get a bit busy and the language quite colourful, have the door wide open throughout the service? We were taken to our table. I have seen more festive offerings in Strangeways. Moreover, I think our server may have been a recent inmate as he was about as welcoming as a bout of Noro virus. No decoration, no crackers, nothing. A drab empty fireplace, and the Xmas lights which had conked out long ago gave the room a down at heal, almost Dickensian work house feel. And so to eat. A slightly sticky menu ended up in my hand, along with a limited and un-inspiring list of options. Given we all felt dreadful due to the awful surroundings and reception, we began to order with some trepidation. The mood was much deserved for what arrived appeared to have been prepared by someone with no experience of producing food, and who had clearly never heard of Christmas. I have attached some pictures but suffice to say the 'Xmas' dinner consisted of three small slices of Turkey breast and a Yorkshire pudding (seriously?) and a poorly cooked parsnip (boiled!) and a piece of stuffing that had clearly come from a mix, and had never seen the inside of an oven, effectively it was raw. All in all, it was a dismal plate, so devoid of seasonal joy, it would have delighted both scrooge and the grinch in equal measure. I must mention the starter as well. This consisted of two lightly toasted pieces of plastic brown bread and a slab of pate. All duped on a bed of something that was once a salad. The presentation was worthy of a nursery school pupil, who had also clearly been allowed to make the 'Boozy' trifle. I am not certain how anyone thought that the trifle could be called 'Boozy'. Clearly no alcohol was present, and never had been. Perhaps it was just produced by an alcoholic, who had breathed on it? In any event, the 'Trifle was one of the most unpleasant things I have ever had the misfortune to consume. A soggy base, followed by cheap jelly and a tin of cocktail fruit was topped off with what I used to know as 'Dream Topping' and imaginatively sprinkled with hundreds and thousands. For balance, a reasonable and quite tasty prawn cocktail was served as a starter, sadly it gave us false hope. I believe if you enjoy good food and good service this is undoubtedly not the place for you. The local Happy Eater beckoned, but they have closed because they were rubbish too. If you enjoy Spud-u-Like of a Wednesday evening, you will love it.

Well where do I start. The crispy shredded beef was more like slips of batter with nothing in it. Sauce was very runny and about as spicy as a tomato. The chicken curry was very bland with 6 pieces of chicken in and half of those pieces were like chewing rubber and had to be spat out and the egg fried rice had burnt but in. On the plus side, their chips weren't to bad. Overall, I would rather eat my own earwax instead of having another takeaway from this place. STAY AWAY PEOPLE. You have been warned

Convenient meeting place with plenty of parking. Not the best Starbucks Toilets out of order and inside need a good spruce up. food only a limited selection left .Its busy and obviously has difficulty in catering for large numbers of guests