Pubs with rooms in Horningsham, Wiltshire | The Bath Arms

Overview

Smack beside one of the entrances to Longleat House in peaceful Horningsham, the estate-owned Bath Arms dates from 1736 and is an striking, creeper-clad stone inn fronted by 200-year-old pollarded lime trees.

Having had their eyes on this impressive building for some years, the Beckford Group (aka Charlie Luxton and Dan Brod - see entries for Beckford Arms, Talbot Inn & Lord Poulett Arms) took on the lease in early 2020 and spent lockdown summer gently refurbishing and fine tuning the place, pushing open the doors in late July to reveal a very stylish country inn.

Country prints and paintings line the walls in the locals bar, with its roaring log fire, bare board floor, and local Horning Ale and Butcombe beers on tap. Next door, in the country-house style dining room, warm blue hues, distinctive rugs, an eclectic mix of old dining tables, and an ornate stone fireplace set the scene for savouring some classic pub food. Rooms are split between the inn and the converted stable block.

On warmer days, you can spill out onto the sun-filled rear terrace and garden for leisurely alfresco meals - it's a truly peaceful spot on balmy summer evenings. The walk down the drive to Longleat is majestic.

Rooms from:

16 doubles: £110

Good to know

Major credit cards accepted (except Amex)

Disabled access

Alfresco & private dining

Parking available

Dogs welcome 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.

Rooms

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.

Restaurant & bar

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.

Things to do

Lying in secluded privacy in its own valley, Stourhead is one of the finest landscape gardens in the world. Lakeside paths lead past classical temples and follies, set against a backdrop of exotic trees. Climb King Alfred's Tower, a fine 50m folly, and from the top you can scan three countries. Sitting majestically above the garden is Stourhead House, a grand Palladian mansion filled with Chippendale furniture, Georgian paintings and an exquisite Regency library.

Stroll down the drive from the Bath Arms and within minutes you could be on safari in Longleat. Get up close and personal with the lions, rhinos, giraffes and monkeys in a purpose-built 4x4, or enjoy a Safari Drive Through in your own car. Standing in extensive parkland landscaped by Capability Brown in the mid-18th century, Longleat House is a perfect example of Elizabethan architecture and includes many fine paintings and artefacts, and possibly the most valuable private library in the world.