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01/10/09
The Merry Harriers is Awarded 3 Symbols By The Good Pub Guide 2010
Now that the eagerly awaited Good Pub Guide for 2010 has been published, I am very pleased to report The Merry Harriers has been awarded 3 symbols in recognition of the following:
* Food that is quite outstanding
* Wines that are particularly enjoyable by the glass
* Beer that is quite exceptional
(I am using The Good Pub Guide's own words in the desriptions above).
The Good Pub Guide also lists The Merry Harriers as one of the top 6 places to eat in the whole of Devon.
Given that only 5% of all pubs make the guide and only 5% of these have been awarded 3 symbols, I guess that makes The Merry Harriers quite special.
The Good Pub Guide itself is widely perceived to be the best guide around as it is written by customers for customers.
I have a copy available for you all to read at The Merry Harriers!
10/09/09
The Merry Harriers To Host a Traditional "Have-a-Go" Archery Event on 3rd October
Regulars and friends of The Merry Harriers are cordially invited to attend a unique traditional "have-a-go" archery event on Saturday 3rd October.
Co-hosted with the UK's Society for the Promotion of Traditional Archery (SPTA), the event provides an opportunity for would-be archers of any age to test their ability to shoot a traditional bow with no sights or technical aids. Tuition will be provided for beginners, as will a range of traditional targets including butts and shooting from a wooden horse.
Participants will also get the chance of meeting Hilary Greenland, a locally-based professional bowmaker and fletcher and author of "The Traditional Archer's Handbook".
Anyone wanting to attend will be charged a nominal fee of £2 for their first 5 arrows to cover the cost of insurance. The Merry Harriers will provide tea and coffee throughout the morning. The event will start at 10am and last until 1pm. In the afterrnoon at 2.30pm, there will be a demonstration of horseback archery.
It promises to be a really fun day out!
01/09/09
Celebrate Christmas 2009 at The Merry Harriers!
Come celebrate Christmas 2009 at The Merry Harriers!
Our Christmas Menu for this year has just been released and it includes locally sourced produce from many Blackdown Hills suppliers with some ingredients from our own market garden!
Starters include:
* Pan Fried Sea Bass on Roasted New Potatoes with Baby Capers
* Pan Roasted Honey and Mustard Glazed Whole Boneless Quail served on Salad Leaves
* (v) Lightly Grilled Goat's Cheese served on a Walnut Salad with a Raspberry dressing
* Chef's Chicken Liver and Brandy Pate served with Home Made Chutney
* Home Made Smoked Haddock Chowder served with freshly baked rolls
Main Courses include:
* Roast Rump of Devon Beef served with all the trimmings and a Red Wine gravy
* Pan Roasted Whole Wood Pigeon served on Mixed Roasted Vegetables with a rich gravy
* Roasted Fillet of Salmon served on Confit Tomatoes with a Basil Pesto
* (v) Wild Mushroom and Spinach Risotto served with a Seasonal Salad
* Local Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Chipolata, all the trimmings and Cranberry sauce
Desserts include:
* Merry Harriers Christmas Pudding served with Home Made Brandy Cream
* Home Made Dark Chocolate Terrine served with Vanilla Ice Cream and Honeycomb pieces
* Home Made Bread and Butter Pudding served with Devon Clotted Cream or Cream Custard
* A Trio of West Country Cheeses served with Apple and Crackers
* Mixed Lovington's Ice Cream served with Cafe Curls
Pricing is £16.00 for 2 courses and £19.00 for 3 courses including Coffee or Tea, Mince Pies and Crackers.
A lighter version of the Christmas Menu is available for Children and Grown-ups with smaller appetites.
We very much hope you will be able to join us at The Merry Harriers this Christmas!
01/09/09
Somerset Art Weeks 2009 Comes To The Merry Harriers!
The local theme for the 2009 Somerset Art Weeks is Borders.
The Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers have therefore decided to use the Devon/Somerset border as an ideal location to pursue this theme. As The Merry Harriers straddles this Border, I am pleased to announce that a series of events will be taking place at the Pub during the Art Weeks fortnight.
Commencing with the official launch of the Border project at The Merry Harriers on 19th September, the Blackdown Hills Artists and Makers will be exhibiting various works of art and sculptures in our Skittle Alley on Friday 25th-Sunday 27th September and from Friday 2nd-Saturday 3rd October. There will also be a number of activities starting from or ending-up at The Merry Harriers, including:
26th September Launch of The Border Trail
26th September Sculpture Walk
27th September "To the Border" Walk
27th September Border Walk
3rd October Extreme Border Walk
More precise timings can be found in the excellent Somerset Art Weeks brochure - copies are available at The Merry Harriers.
It promises to be an exciting and culturally invigorating fortnight!
09/09/08
The Merry Harriers to Appear in the 2009 CAMRA Good Beer Guide
Hot off the press, I am pleased to inform you that The Merry Harriers has been selected to appear in the 2009 edition of CAMRA's Good Beer Guide.
With 60,000 pubs in the UK, only 4,500 of the finest outlets for cask beer can be included in the guide each year. The competition for inclusion in Somerset is even fiercer, with room only for 60 establishments. (Note: Even though our address is Devon, The Merry Harriers is actually in Somerset).
It is CAMRA members who select each pub based predominantly upon the quality of beer served, ambiance of the establishment and value for money. The Merry Harriers is proud to be included.
01/05/08
Blackdown Hills Food Festival Luncheon on 27th May 2008
As part of the week long Blackdown Hills Food Festival, The Merry Harriers will be hosting a luncheon on Tuesday 27th May.
Our brigade of 3 Chefs will be preparing a delicious 2 and 3 course Lunch using specially selected Blackdown Hills produce with a choice of at least 3 dishes per course. Pricing will be £13 (2 courses) and £17 (3 courses) inclusive of Tea/Coffee.
Our usual Lunchtime a la carte menu will also be available.
Booking is advisable by calling The Merry Harriers on telephone no: 01823-421270.
16/10/07
The Merry Harriers hires a Third Chef
The Merry Harriers is pleased to announce that Johnathan Shorney has recently joined as a Third Chef.
Johnathan will be concentrating on evolving the Pastry and Dessert offerings, having enjoyed 2 years prior experience at the AA Rosette'd The Devonshire Arms near Langport.
Johnathan is a Taunton boy and trained at SCAT.
Head Chef Stuart Griffiths said: "Johnathan is a superb acquisition for The Merry Harriers and his undoubted skill and flair for food will be focused on the Pudding Menu initially. We are delighhted that he has agreed to join the brigade."
16/10/07
Le Jog Comes To The Merry Harriers on 1st December 2007
The world renowned Le Jog (Land's End to John O'Groats) Classic Car Rally will be stopping off at The Merry Harriers at around 3pm on Saturday 1st December 2007.
You will have the chance to see in the flesh around 70 classic cars ranging in age from the 1930s to the 1980s. As an official time checkpoint, the competitors are required to stop at The Merry Harriers and get their "stamp". Their onward journey takes them a further 1,100 miles until they reach John O'Groats by Tuesday/Wednesday.
For the very latest list of entrants, please visit www.hero.org.uk.
The Merry Harriers will stay open throughout the day, although food will only be served until 3pm.
I hope you enjoy the event!
13/06/07
The Merry Harriers makes The Daily Telegraph
On Saturday 9th June, a "Pint to Pint" review of The Merry Harriers appeared in the Weekend section (at the back) of The Daily Telegraph.
If you would like to view it online, then go to www.telegraph.co.uk and type in Pint to Pint in the search window.
Happy reading!
29/04/07
Success For The Highwaymen!
In their very first season back skittling at The Merry Harriers, the magnificent Highwaymen have scooped the Blackdown Hills Division Two League title by a nailbiting one point.
Admirably led by the hard-playing, hard-drinking Brian "Gooner" Sydenham, The Highwaymen only lost 2 matches throughout the season. They were also semi-finalists in the Goodman Cup competition.
The Highwaymen will now mix it with the very best Blackdown Hills skittlers in the Premier Division when the new season starts in September 2007.
Come on you Robbers!
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