Farthings Country House Hotel & Restaurant Tunton

Attractive building in spacious, shaded grounds where dogs, ducks and peacocks roam. The rooms, of various types, are large and tastefully furnished. Not all have fridges, but there are common use fridges stocked with fresh milk for in-room coffee/tea. A nice touch. The food is excellent, every course we had, dinner or breakfast - worth the cost. The pleasant and adjacent Hatch Inn serves good dinners (except Sundays and Mondays), and has a congenial bar and patio atmosphere. Two odd things about Farthings - The peacock's dawn screeching can be alarming. And the owner/manager, John Hughes; he ignores his guests, reacts tersely if spoken too, and seems to regard them as irritants. ** The village hall, across the road, has Country Music sessions the second Saturdays of the month. Maybe worth attending - or avoiding..

Recently moved to Halstead and keen to try local restaurants. Sign identified it was under new management. Menu itself was in poor condition, selection of items varied. Chose platter for two, then duck in honey sauce and steamed vegetables. Assorted platter food was served warm rather than hot, both my partner and I selected different items, Having lived in Asia and visiting many U.K. Thai restaurants none of the presented food had the freshness identified with Thai food, the chicken sticks appeared very dry on the outside and over cooked, the filo parcels had been sat on one side allowing the oils to soak through one side of the parcel and an over powering taste of cooking oil depending where.the parcel was eaten. In fairness to the restaurant the dish was removed from final bill Main course was duck in honey sauce, again, the food served was barely warm, unlike the usual hot or sizzling temperature associated with Thai food. The steamed vegetables were a few strips of Bok Choi hidden under the sauce of soya sauce, not sure where the honey flavour was, or, over powered by the Soya Sauce. Part of my partner’s meal consisted of coconut rice, this was the highlight of her meal, most of her food was not eaten. Overall the meal was disappointing and certainly not upto the usual high standards of hot and spicy food served in Thai establishments. Although the sign outside did say the restaurant was under new management, no idea how new, but does not reflect the five star reviews given in 2022 & 2023 Unlikely to be visiting the restaurant again unless the new reviews identify an improvement to the overall quality of food

Superb hospitality from very attentive and friendly staff. Room was exceptionally comfortable and well appointed. Top quality towels and linen. Breakfast was top notch with excellent coffee. Ingredients/ food quality were all first rate. 10/10