Wheelwrights Arms

That top floor room was the one to get, with wide valley views and a rear staircase that led straight to the car park. Inside, it was clean and nicely furnished, with old-fashioned touches like a magazine and radio that seemed to be there for decoration. The shower was the best we’d had in three weeks of travelling, hot and powerful. The hotel sits well away from the main roads. Those narrow single lane routes made me nervous as an Australian, though they were also oddly enjoyable and felt like “authentic England.” We picked the place mostly for its plentiful off street parking, and it’s about 10 minutes from Bath. It’s under new management in the last 12 months, which can go either way, but for us it was a jackpot. The bar had cosy fires, some history, engaging hosts and dinner that was genuinely good. There’s also a nearby churchyard with the grave of Britain’s oldest WWI veteran, aged 111. My one real gripe was the requested 10% surcharge on food and drinks. This awkward “ugly American” tipping culture should stay in America. Pay staff properly instead of leaving guests uncomfortable. Even so, it’s a charming and comfortable place I’d happily recommend. Probably not a good fit for anyone with mobility issues.

We only came in for a drink and dinner, so I can’t say anything about the rooms. The food was lovely, though nothing fancy, and the bill was fairly reasonable when shared. There’s free parking, too. Service was attentive without hovering, and they were very welcoming to my friend’s two curious pugs 💜. We got a table without booking, even on Friday evening. We’ll be back soon.

The Easter weekend dinner was the big letdown. We’d booked a table because the website menu looked amazing, but the menu we got had only three pizzas, a pea dish and a mushroom dish. When we asked about the difference, we were told Sundays are made from what’s left over. We had to find somewhere else to eat at short notice. The room was okay, though grubby in a few places, and the bed was quite small. We also paid extra for breakfast, which was good. I suppose that part was our mistake, but after paying £173 for one night we’d assumed it was included.

The bus stop is just down the road, with a service every two hours that takes 15 minutes to Bath. We had a lovely stay last week. The room was big, beautifully decorated and completely in keeping with the old building. The menu was limited, but the food was great and everyone’s service was excellent. We’ll be coming back!