The Greyhound Inn, Staple Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset
If you drive to Taunton on what the locals call ‘the back way’, over the Blackdown Hills, you’ll go through the sleepy village of Staple Fitzpaine, which is where The Greyhound Inn is. If you decide to go for a walk at Staple Hill or Castle Neroche just up the road, book a table here for lunch afterwards.
They have a very straightforward ethos at The Greyhound Inn – pub food done properly. And that’s exactly what they do. So you’ll find all your pub favourites on the menu – Fish & chips, Burgers, Sausage & mash, and Ham, egg & chips, but there are also more fancy dishes like Chicken Schnitzel, Fillet of Seabream, Miso & spicy harissa aubergine, and Chicken & bacon Caesar salad. There are sandwiches at lunchtime too, and there’s a menu for children; on Sundays they serve an absolute corker of a roast. It’s all home cooked of course and made using ingredients that are sourced as close to home as possible.
What you’ll notice is that whilst the furniture keeps pace with the 21st century, this place still oozes that essential rustic character, with rambling, interconnecting rooms that have flagstones on the floor and big old ceiling beams or exposed timbers. When it’s cold they light the open fire, when it’s warm you can sit outside in the garden and sip your beer in the sunshine.
Open: Every day 11.00am-11.30pm
T: 01823 480227 All information correct at the time of writing