Pub with rooms in Horningsham, Wiltshire
Curator's notes:
Rooms from:
16 doubles: £100
Good to know
Major credit cards accepted (except Amex)
Disabled access
Alfresco & private dining
Parking available
No dogs overnight
Scenic & Serene
Horningsham is a postcard-pretty village lost down lanes on edge of the Longleat Estate - take time to stroll down to the parish church for the glorious views across fields to Longleat House.
A Touch of Culture
Famed for its Roman Baths and historic architecture, the city of Bath is just 30 minutes away. Explore independent shops and bathe in Thermae Bath Spa - the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain. You can also enjoy a glass or two at the Beckford Bottle Shop, Wine Shop and Bistro.
Sixteen simple yet very stylish and comfortable rooms are split between the main inn and the stable block ajacent to the inn. Rooms of varying sizes ramble across two floors of the inn, with two beamed and very characterful rooms being tucked away in the attic; Room 7 has a freestanding bath with views across Longleat Estate.
They are kitted out with all manner of creature comforts including Siberian goose-down bedding and Vintage Welsh wool blankets on very comfortable beds, an easy chair or perhaps two in the larger rooms, and a mix of antique furnishings, with interior decor inspired by the British countryside. Fresh, clean bathrooms have modern fittings and baths or walk-in showers, and the Beckford Group's very own natural Bramley Products. Spacious rooms are ideal for families with sofa or extra beds provided, and some rooms have lovely views of the landscaped gardens and beyond.
Using local suppliers is at the heart of the inn's ethos and every effort is made to cook the abundance of seasonal produce from small producers across Wiltshire and neighbouring counties. Chef Jack Chapman sources meat and game from the Longleat Estate and local farms and fish landed daily on the south coast.
Don't expect fusion or Mediterranean cooking, or elaborately described dishes - the daily-changing menu is simple and very traditionally British in style and execution. Choose from classic pub dishes (with a twist) like the Bath Arms burger with smoked ham and harissa mayonnaise or cider-battered haddock with chips, or opt for bacon and her-crusted hake, chorizo and celeriac broth, crispy mussels, samphire and salmon roe, the dish our inspector tucked into during his overnight stay. Puddings may include lemon posset with raspberry coulis.
The bar is also kept well-stocked with tempting snacks - .try resisting the inviting sausage roll on the bar, delicious with a pint of Butcombe. Great wines from their very own merchant, the Beckford Bottle Shop in nearby Bath.
