Best Country Pubs in Somerset

Somerset is packed with characterful country pubs where you can linger over a pint, tuck into hearty food and soak up proper West Country charm. From roaring fires and flagstone floors to beer gardens with countryside views, these are some of the best spots for a relaxed drink, a cosy meal and an easygoing day out.

The Cotley Inn – Wambrook

A beautiful rural pub with far-reaching Somerset views. It has a strong focus on local produce, including ingredients grown in its own kitchen garden, giving it a genuine farm-to-table country feel.

The Barrington Boar – Barrington

An excellent choice for food lovers, combining the atmosphere of a traditional Hamstone village pub with refined modern British cooking. It has appeared in the Michelin Guide and other respected food guides.

The Three Horseshoes Batcombe – Batcombe

A characterful village inn surrounded by beautiful Somerset countryside. It combines the cosy feel of an old country pub with high-quality food and stylish accommodation.

The Exmoor Forest Inn – Simonsbath

Its location in the heart of Exmoor makes this a particularly good walking pub. It's ideal for stopping for hearty food and a drink after exploring the moor.

Lord Poulett Arms – Hinton St George

Dating back to 1680, this thatched village pub has bags of character. Expect local ales, British dishes, meat and game from local farms and produce from its own kitchen garden.

The Greyhound Inn – Staple Fitzpaine

A wonderfully rural pub on the edge of the Blackdown Hills, with old timbers, flagstone floors, open fires and plenty of good countryside walks nearby.

The Litton – Litton, near Wells

A picturesque country inn in the Mendips that's particularly good for combining a countryside drive or walk with quality food and a relaxed drink.

The Queen's Arms – Corton Denham

A family-owned village pub surrounded by rolling countryside on the Somerset/Dorset border. It's particularly welcoming to walkers, dogs and muddy boots and has a strong reputation for food and drink.

Kingsdon Inn – Kingsdon

A lovely 300-year-old thatched pub that was originally a cider house. Beams, fireplaces, a bread oven, candlelit rooms and a garden overlooking the village green give it classic country-pub character.

The Five Dials Inn – near Ilminster

A cosy Somerset inn that works well for a proper country-pub meal, with the added benefit of rooms if you want to turn a visit into an overnight stay.

The Hood Arms – Kilve

A lovely option for exploring the Quantocks and the West Somerset coast. It has the feel of a traditional village inn and is particularly well placed for combining lunch with a countryside or coastal walk.

The Crown Pilton – Pilton

Set in one of Somerset's best-known villages, this is a characterful rural pub with a relaxed atmosphere and good food, making it a nice stop while exploring the countryside around Glastonbury and the Mendips.

The White Hart – Somerton

A stylish gastropub in historic Somerton, combining the character of an old inn with good food and comfortable accommodation. A lovely relaxed environment for locals and guests alike.

The Ring O' Bells, Compton Martin – Compton Martin

A quintessential Mendip village pub with beams, oak floors and an inglenook fireplace. It's also unusually famous for its music connections, having hosted secret gigs by major artists.

The Bower Inn, Bridgwater – Bridgwater

A characterful 18th-century inn that's a great stopping point when exploring the Somerset Levels, serving Butcombe beer, local cider and hearty pub food. A very charming setting.