Lifestyle
Good Pub Guide
The best independent pubs and bars across the West Country.
West Country · Pubs & Inns
The Pub Edit
Characterful country inns, brilliant locals and destination pubs worth making the journey for. Use the filters to find the perfect spot — dog-friendly pubs with a garden near a great walk, Sunday roasts, open fires and more.
Somerset
Wedmore, Somerset
The Swan
Picnic tables on the terrace and spacious lawns, with a wood-fired pizza oven and BBQ. Wedmore's stylish gastropub serves modern British food with a relaxed, sunny vibe — perfect for long lunches and family afternoons.
Tarr Steps, near Dulverton, Somerset
Tarr Farm Inn
When they say gardens, they mean grounds — 40 acres of them — plus the stunning medieval clapper bridge over the river Barle. A former UK Top 50 Gastropub serving exceptional, locally sourced food in a magical Exmoor setting.
Litton, near Wells
The Litton
Three outdoor spaces including a sunken courtyard, a riverside terrace with a fire pit and a landscaped grassy garden. Modern British and Med menu.
Bath, Somerset
Hare & Hounds
A mile north of the city with a massive garden, outside bar, pizza oven and spectacular views across the Bath countryside.
Mells, Somerset
The Talbot Inn
A 15th-century coaching inn with a cobbled courtyard and lovely gardens — the owners come from Soho House — in the pretty village of Mells.
Wambrook, near Chard
The Cotley Inn
On the Cotley Estate, in a glorious valley on the edge of the Blackdown Hills AONB — a rustic pub with loads of south-facing outdoor seating.
Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset
The Duke of York
A characterful thatched village inn in the heart of Shepton Beauchamp, serving well-kept ales, hearty food and a warm welcome in a classic Somerset setting.
South Petherton, Somerset
The Brewers Arms
A much-loved village pub in the heart of South Petherton, serving real ales and hearty food in a warm and welcoming setting.
South Stoke, near Bath
The Packhorse
Saved from residential conversion by locals, The Packhorse is now renowned for its warm welcome, great food and gorgeous garden — with lovely walks all around.
Batcombe, Somerset
The Three Horseshoes
Field-to-fork, nose-to-tail cooking from New Zealand chef Margot Henderson (Rochelle Canteen, The Eagle, The French House) — eat in the pretty gardens.
Hinton St George, near Crewkerne
The Lord Poulett Arms
One of Somerset's prettiest pub gardens — French wire furniture, pebbles, lavender, vines and boules, alongside award-winning food.
Babcary, Somerset
The Red Lion Inn
Sunny gardens with an arbour, rosemary bushes, a wood pit and an outdoor pizza oven fired on Fridays and Saturdays. Great food and a little slide for the kids.
Bath, Somerset
Hall & Woodhouse Bath
Escape the city bustle with a cool drink and all-day dining on the four-storey rooftop terrace — complete with tub plants and views over central Bath.
Combe Hay, Somerset
The Wheatsheaf
Modern British food and a glass of rosé on a sunny terrace. Why bother with Provence?
Long Sutton, near Langport
The Devonshire Arms
A former hunting lodge turned gastropub on the edge of a picturesque village green — eat and drink very well in the courtyard or large terraced walled garden.
Dorset
Worth Matravers, Dorset
Square & Compass
Award-winning beers and ciders — including home-pressed traditional cider made by the owner — served straight through the hatch.
Cerne Abbas, Dorset
The New Inn
A former 16th-century coaching house with a large walled garden, fruit trees and views of the village rooftops — and the famous chalk giant just up the hill.
West Lulworth, Dorset
The Castle Inn
Terrace gardens with views over the village and Dorset's spectacular Jurassic coast just a few minutes away.
Plush, near Dorchester
The Brace of Pheasants
Originally a blacksmith's workshop, this pretty thatched pub in the village of Plush serves award-winning seasonal food with plenty of space outside. Live music in the gardens on Summer Sundays.
Near Beaminster, Dorset
Winyard's Gap
Panoramic views across rolling Dorset and Somerset countryside from the beer garden. A welcoming country pub serving hearty local food, with six boutique rooms.
Seatown, Dorset
The Anchor Inn
Great food on a terrace overlooking the beach — ponder a walk up Golden Cap or simply enjoy another glass of chilled wine.
Kingston, near Corfe Castle
The Scott Arms
Fab views of Corfe Castle (there's a telescope for close-ups), pub menu seven days a week, and a Burger Shak BBQ on summer weekends.
Estrella Damm Top 100 Gastropubs 2026
The West Country's Top Gastropubs
The Estrella Damm list — compiled by 350 of the UK's top foodies and pub pros — names the country's finest gastropubs. Here are the West Country entries, with details on the page and links direct to each pub to book a table.
Somerset
The Three Horseshoes
No 14Batcombe, Somerset
A 17th century pub with bar, two dining rooms, outside space and rooms to stay, in the pretty village of Batcombe just north of Bruton. Acclaimed chef Margot Henderson (The French House, Rochelle Canteen) produces no-nonsense, unpretentious earthy food, expertly done.
- — Beetroot, red onion & goat's curd
- — Beef short rib braised in stout with mash
- — Treacle tart & clotted cream
Queen of Cups
No 42Glastonbury, Somerset
Chef of the Year Ayesha Kalaji serves modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, often cooked over fire and inspired by her Jordanian heritage. A 17th century coaching inn in the centre of Glastonbury — come with friends for sharing plates or The Queen's Feast.
- — Grilled Nabulsi cheese, Persian black lime honey, wild za'atar
- — Gazan spiced Fowey mussels, dill & pomegranate molasses
- — Pork butt steak, pickled walnut & black garlic emulsion
Devon
The Cornish Arms
No 10Tavistock, Devon
A celebrated Devon gastropub in the market town of Tavistock, on the western edge of Dartmoor.
Cornwall
The Mariners
No 27Rock, Cornwall
Paul Ainsworth's relaxed coastal pub on the Camel Estuary at Rock.
The Gurnard's Head
No 38Zennor, Cornwall
A remote coastal pub-restaurant on the wild Cornish coast near St Ives.
Wiltshire
The Castle Inn
No 53Castle Combe, Wiltshire
A historic inn in the picture-perfect Cotswold village of Castle Combe.
Somerset · Top 50 Gastropubs
Top 50 Gastropubs: Somerset
The definitive national ranking of the UK's best gastropubs — here are the Somerset entries, featuring some of the finest food-led pubs in the country.
View the full list