The Sun Inn, Bruton

A traditional looking pub on Buton’s small High Street, this appears to be the most authentic and pub-like of the pubs in the village, and was only one of two that was even open on our Tuesday lunchtime visit. Internally it consists of a number of interconnected rooms arranged around a central bar counter. Décor wise it’s quite traditional as well, although perhaps also feels a little basic, although by no means unpleasant. Varnished wooden boards were in the room to the left, along with plain whitewashed walls and grey wood panelling down below. There were a few black beams on the ceiling, and a number of old black and white portrait photographs dotted around the walls. A deal aspect stone chimney breast was off to one side, complete with a wood burning stove and furnished with various agricultural implements. This served as a divider between two of the rooms. A narrower room at the rear had some sort of stone tiling on the floor, as well as a cart wheel on the wall and a milk churn. The room to the right, labelled as the Public Bar, had slate toiling on the floor, a TV or two showing a sports channel and a pool table at the rear. This had predominantly exposed stone walling, and a further fireplace with wood burning stove. The menu offered a very extensive selection of dishes, all the usual pub options as well as an extensive selection of Persian choices. I opted for the Ham, egg & chips and this was a decent and hearty dish with thick slabs of good quality ham, crispy well cooked chips and two eggs. Beers on tap were Exmoor Wild Cat and Doom Bar, whilst the ciders were Gold and Haze from Thatcher’s, along with Aspall’s. Overall, a decent enough pit stop.

A good start to post-lockdown drinking, it was good news to find this pub open at lunchtime, albeit with a few restrictions. It supposedly has 13th Century roots, though these are not easy to see. It may have been used as a coaching inn, and the courtyard layout supports this. Inside, there are bars both sides. On the left as you enter from the high street is normally a saloon and dining room, the other side a public bar with pool table and darts. There is a more comfortable lounge bar at the rear, and a skittle alley which doubles as a function room. Passing through to the rear, there is a paved terraced yard with plenty of seating, some of it covered by a high canvas roof supported by columns which also support large infra red heaters. Most of the yard is usable by smokers. There was only one ale on, Doombar, which was in good condition. The staff were pleasant and welcoming, and there was a strong local contingent in. I’d be very happy to revisit, hopefully when restrictions are over and they have more ale on.

Attractive old inn, albeit one given a slightly unexpected semi-modern makeover inside. Partly opened in places, but retaining much of its original layout with a busy (and more traditional) Public Bar with a pool table and a smarter (but modest) Saloon Bar which is supplemented by a small side room (with local history photographs on the walls) and slightly larger and brighter rear dining area. Also has a notional 'beer terrace' and skittle alley at the back. Two real ales on handpump: Doom Bar and - thankfully - Piston Broke from the Box Steam Brewery (£3.20).