Pub with rooms Chilcompton, Somerset | The Redan Inn

Overview

Rescued and revamped by the team behind the Pump House in Bristol and the Bird in Hand in Long Ashton, both successful dining pubs, the unassuming Redan Inn dates from 1840 and enjoys a small village location close to Bath, Wells, Frome and the glorious Mendip Hills.

The blue bar greets you as you step through the door (note the gin collection) and the contemporary-smart interior comes as a surprise - expect wood floors, chunky tables, chapel chairs, blue-painted settles, fresh flowers and unusual curios, and a blazing wood-burner in the stone fireplace. Equally cosy is the adjoining dining room and walls throughout the pub are adorned with paintings, local prints and an impressive collection of vintage enamel signs (co-owner Dan's passion).

Head outside in summer and make the most of the raised terrace, kitted out with smart cushioned rattan-style furnishings, or check-out the shed with its sofas and games.

Rooms from

7 doubles: £110

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Alfresco & private dining
Weekend BBQs
Wedding venue
Parking available
No dogs overnight

Fine dining

Fancy a five course surprise menu cooked by head chef Dan and his team, then give the pub 24 hours notice and they will rustle up a sublime meal using West Country produce, home-grown vegetables and local foraged ingredients.

A touch of culture

Just a short drive away is Bath, a beautiful Georgian city with fantastic architecture and lots to see and do, from the Abbey and Assembly Rooms to the Roman Baths that gave the place its name.

Rooms

Upstairs, the seven spacious bedrooms are individually decorated and ooze style, comfort and quirky touches.

You'll find more enamel signs and interesting vintage and antique furnishings, including old wooden trunks and leather wing chairs, alongside unusual artwork, super-comfortable Loaf beds and mattresses dressed with the finest feather and goose down duvets and pillows.

Impressive bathrooms have slate-tiled floors, quality fittings, huge walk-in rain showers and posh Bramley bathroom products, which are handmade in Wiltshire. The suites also feature roll-top baths. Smart TVs, locally roasted fresh coffee (Brian Wogan) and homemade biscuits complete the picture.

Restaurant & bar

Chef-patron Toby Gritten's field-to-fork and foraging style of cooking that firmly placed the Pump House and the Bird in Hand on Bristol's culinary map is showcased at the Redan Inn.

Head chef Dan Edwards, who once plied the stoves at the Marlborough Tavern in Bath, sources top-notch ingredients from local artisan suppliers and the pub's kitchen garden to create the modern British dishes on the interesting monthly-changing menu. Choose a pub classic, perhaps the excellent ploughman's lunch or Cumberland sausages with mash and onion gravy, or one of the seasonal dishes - Cornish fish stew, braised ox cheek with rosemary jus, and sticky toffee pudding show the style. Great traditional bar snacks, weekend BBQs and Sunday lunches too.

To quaff, there's Bath Gem, Cheddar Potholer and Butcombe Bitter on tap, over 100 boutique gins lined up on the back bar, a decent list of wines (12 by the glass or carafe), and local Lovely premium juices.

Private dining

The cosy private dining room is perfect for intimate family celebrations (seats 14) and can be used for business meetings and lunches. A marquee can be set up in the garden for small weddings with exclusive use of the pub.

Things to do

Bradford on Avon is full of the most delightful buildings, from the famous Town Bridge, tiny weavers' cottages and impressive clothiers' houses to handsome public buildings and ancient alleyways. The river Avon winds through the town, there's a beautiful 14th-century tithe barn and an Anglo-Saxon church.

Well worth the short drive is Wells and the jewel in the city's crown is its historic cathedral - a masterpiece of medieval craftsmanship. Look out, too, for the moated, 13th-century Bishop's Palace and many other splendid buildings and fascinating landmarks around the city.

Rising to just over 1,000ft above sea level, the Mendip Hills draws the real walking enthusiast, so don your boots and explore this fascinating limestone landscape. For something really rewarding, try the 50-mile Mendip Way, which runs through the heart of the Mendips between Weston-super-Mare and Frome.