The Barrington Boar
Barrington, Somerset
‘We really enjoyed the warm, relaxed atmosphere of a pub, but the outstanding food and drink of a top-notch restaurant that you wouldn't expect in such a little village.' Reporters are effusive in their praise for this charming country pub, a few miles from the A303. Alasdair Clifford and his wife Victoria Collins have got it right from the start, providing all the warmth, atmosphere and rusticity you could wish for, with positive, approachable service and a keen eye for seasonality. On offer is a menu of more inherent complexity than the classic pub appearance suggests. Here you can revel in cooking that puts the emphasis firmly on locally grown, reared or foraged ingredients, from lightly seared chalk stream trout tataki with sweet-and-sour gooseberry purée, Dorset watercress and a heaped 'spaghetti' of fresh horseradish topped with bright salmon roe to two thick rounds of tender wild Exmoor venison loin with a tasty braised faggot, excellent hay-smoked beets, confit celeriac and a smear of intense preserved elderflower sauce. Elsewhere, the good-value set lunch menu has not lost sight of the fact that this is a country pub, delivering straight-to-the-point cooking in the form of lamb hotpot with mash and buttered sprout tops, or beer-battered day-boat fish with chips, crushed minted peas and tartare sauce, plus hearty Sunday roasts. ‘A local cheese plate with a glass of apple Pomona from the cider distillery up the road is a wonderful end to a meal,’ states one fan, though their sticky toffee apple pudding 'served with pecans, clotted cream and a glass of Somerset cider brandy on the side’ also has its supporters. The wide-ranging, well-annotated wine list (from £22) includes a sparkler from Smith & Evans, produced just 10 miles away.
Dining Information:
Accommodation, Private dining room, Separate bar, Parking, Family friendly, Dog friendly, Credit card required
Main Street, Barrington, Somerset TA19 0JB
01460 259281
