Out & About Around Somerset

If you want to venture further than the onsite bar, there are lots of great country pubs just a short drive away.

Our favourite locals are: 

• The Squirrel Inn – 4 miles away between Clapton and Winsham, this independent local has a huge gin selection, and big family garden with great views. http://www.squirrelinn.co.uk/ 
• The Bell Inn, Winsham 4 miles away –  Is a little local pub with good homemade pies,  games room and skittle alley.  It is possible to walk to the Bell by footpath and small country lanes on a circular walk – making the pub a great half way point for your hike! https://thebellinwinsham.co.uk/ 
• Royal Oak in Drimpton – 3 miles away, another cosy local, The Royal Oak can is a relatively easy bike ride away for competent cyclists. https://palmersbrewery.com/pubs/royal-oak-drimpton/ 
• The Windwhistle Inn – 4 miles away on the A30 between Crewkerne and Chard.  A St Austell brewery pub, is good for families and has a nice big beer garden with great views. https://www.windwhistleinn.co.uk/ 
• Winyard’s Gap Inn , Cheddington  – 7 miles away is a more food focused pub, beautifully furnished with incredible views.  Worth booking ahead on Sunday and in the summer https://www.winyardsgap.com/ 
• The Prince of Wales, Ham Hill – great for walkers you can reward your climb up the hill with a pint of a local brew! You can also join it in with a visit to National Trust property Montacute House. http://www.princeofwaleshamhill.co.uk/ 
• The Lord Poulett Arms – set in the idyllic ham stone village of Hinton St George , just 5 miles away.  Has gained a fantastic and well-deserved reputation for its food.  Seasonal menus change constantly and always feature fresh local ingredients.  Make sure you book before you visit for this one. https://www.lordpoulettarms.com/ 
• Holm – 9 miles away in super trendy South Petherton.  Ok this is actually a restaurant not a pub but we had to include it.  A contemporary fine dining experience they are passionate about food and drink inspired by nature.  Splash out on the tasting menu with matched wines, or scale back to the a la carte or bar menu for something a little more modest.  Booking a must.  https://holmsomerset.co.uk/ 

There are several  pub choices in Crewkerne as well, here are some of the ones we know:

• Oscars do great pub food and generous portions at reasonable prices.  We definitely recommend the scallops. Cute courtyard out the back, shared with a little antique shop!  No website but great reviews https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g666345-d3446265-Reviews-Oscars_Wine_Bar-Crewkerne_Somerset_England.html 
• The Crooked Swan has been recently refurbished, has lovely decor and really good pub food.  Another nice courtyard garden in place, plus they show bigger sporting events on a big screen in the ball room.  https://crookedswan.com/ 
• The George Hotel, an imposing building on the square is under new ownership and is sporting a new menu and often hosts live music. https://georgehotel.southcoastinns.co.uk/ 
• Bar 5 on the high street has lots of local ciders and beers, fresh pizza and very often live music.  https://www.facebook.com/bar5Crewkerne 

Crewkerne has a good range of takeaways with two Chinese, plus two fish and chips, a kebab shop, Indian and a Dominos. 

There are some amazing independent cafes in Crewkerne and the surrounding area and if you really must – there is a Costa. But here are our picks of ones to try out in the area:

• The Board House – brand new board game Cafe in Crewkerne – this is a great rainy day choice.  Serving up drinks and snacks you pay for your table for as long as you want and take your pick from over 100 board games on offer.  https://www.theboardhouse.co.uk/
• Bilbys – a friendly local cafe on Crewkerne high street with lots of traditional breakfast and lunch menu choices, plus a great burger selection in the evenings.  
• The Stables – Broadwindsor 6 miles away – a lovely airy cafe doing yummy local home cooked food from Breakfast to teatime. Plus you can go for a nose around the independent shops in Redlands Yard.  https://redlandsyard.co.uk/ 
• The Feed Station, Merriott.  Now if you are a cyclist, The Feed Station is probably already on your radar as it recently won Cyclists cafe of the year, and it’s true that it is well set up to welcome velocipedes.  Just 6 miles away it’s definitely bikeable if you are reasonably confident, with a few sharp climbs to burn off the cake or link up to Route 30 for a longer spin! But you definitely don’t have to arrive on two wheels to enjoy the warm welcome and delicious food.  https://www.thefeedstationmerriott.co.uk/ 
• Pip’s Carriage – 8 miles away at Lopen Head just off the A303.  Awesome quirky cafe , bakery and restaurant where you can dine in individual booths in an old railway carriage or bus  Growing many of their own ingredients and baking all manner of delectable patisserie in house, they’ve won a Muddy Stilettos award for best cafe in Somerset.  https://www.pipsrailwaycarriage.co.uk/ 
• Barleymows Farm Shop – see food shops
• The Green House, Dillington Estate – enjoy the stunning views, takeaway food and drink as well as shop in a relaxed atmosphere where you will find helpful knowledgeable staff as well as household items and delicious foods to fill your basket.

Nestled in the corner in the crook of South Somerset, West Dorset and East Devon – Wytch Wood is at the heart of the rural South West.  So it’s no surprise there is a wealth of excellent farm shops, butchers and producers.  Here are some of our favourites:

• Barrets Brother, family butchers on Market Street in Crewkerne.  Proud holders of the Q Guild mark for quality artisan butchers, they stock a fantastic range of quality West Country meats, cheeses and deli items – perfect for stocking up for BBQs or picnics.  Oh – and they’ve just opened a green grocers next door too! https://www.barrettbros.co.uk/ 
• Barley Sugar Bakehouse really is the definition of hidden gem!  Tucked away on a tiny side street of Oxen Road in Crewkerne – this classic French style boulangerie  bakes the most delicious sourdough bread, patisserie, vienoiserie and a few British classics like sausage rolls and pasties.  Only open on Saturday mornings, join the queue that goes half way down the street – it’ll be worth it.  https://www.facebook.com/TheBarleySugar 
• Barleymows Farm shop and Cafe – 9 miles away on A30 near Chard.  A fantastic resource, Barleymows houses a butchers, deli, fruit and veg, huge range of local dry goods and preserves, free-from items, baked goods, chilled and frozen … basically a truly local supermarket!  Stocking their own meats and eggs from the farm, their policy is to source from within a 25 mile radius.  And all this is used to make stock the excellent cafe as well.  https://barleymowsfarmshop.co.uk/