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Shepton Mallet
The Poacher's Pocket

Delve into The Poacher's Pocket and you'll find good old-fashioned customs mingled with hearty food and quality drink. Situated just outside Shepton Mallet in the small village of Chelynch, this age-old inn boasts the beautiful Mendip Hills as its backdrop.

The vibe is traditional through and through here - no television, pool table, juke box or gaming devices, just the chitter-chatter of happy customers. The Poacher's is just what you'd expect from a village pub, its stone building housing exposed wooden beams, open log fires, cosy booth seating and heavy wooden tables. Four draft ales are offered in the bar area, alongside an extensive list of French, Italian, Chilean and Spanish wines. Food is high on the bill here however, and can be enjoyed in the relaxed setting of the bar or the restaurant.

The restaurant area seats a maximum of 24 diners, its stripped wooden flooring and crisp white napkins creating a professional atmosphere. Good pub grub, homecooked and locally sourced, is the order of the day. Braised lamb shank sitting on a bed of mash and coated in a rich red wine and rosemary gravy is a signature dish, although the pork tenderloin with a creamy cider honey and wholegrain mustard sauce gives it a run for its money. I'm always a believer that a pub's burger is a benchmark for its food, and The Poacher's offering - six ounces of quality Aberdeen Angus beef served with relish, cheese, bacon and a barbecue sauce - is fantastic, and one of the most popular items on the menu. There is a range of lighter bar snacks available too, with homemade steak and ale pie, three-egg omelette and battered cod and chips on offer. Smaller portions of the same dishes are available for senior citizens or children, and a selection of homemade desserts includes the likes of bread and butter pudding and chocolate fudge cake. Sunday roast is also a popular event at The Poacher's and, at £7.50 a head, booking is recommended.

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