The Rodney Stoke Inn, Cheddar

This roadside pub has changed somewhat since Blackthorn’s review, below. After a short period of closure it was reopened in 2004. The new owbers have opened out the snug which is now open plan with the rest of the building. It feels modern, having lost much of any rural charm there was. The extension at the rear feels barn-like, though it’s a pleasant place to sit and enjoy the view out to the small private garden at the back. There is a modern stone fireplace at the side which doesn’t really match the rest of the décor. The pub felt cold, mainly because neither the fireplace nor the heating was on, a weakness during a cold February. Te bar counter area feels sterile, and there is no encouragement to stand at the bar drinking (no bar stools either). Food was well cooked, freshly made standard pub grub and was reasonably priced for the area. There was no real le available – of the two pumps on the bar one was dry the other was clipped for Butcombe Original but had just run out. The keg choices were Stateside and Tall Tales from Butcombe, Underfall, Rattler, Guinness, Sam Miguel and Thatcher’s Gold. Water and treats were offered for dogs, and there was plenty of parking available at the side. I might give it another go in the Summer, hopefully when they have some ale on, and it’s a good place to stop for lunch if you don’t mind drinking keg, but for now its not a destination in its own right.

An attractive looking pub on the main Wells to Cheddar road, it looks as though it has been extended somewhat over the years and now is quite a good size, and although much of it was in use by diners on our visit, it certainly doesn’t appear to be a gastro-pub. The smallish bar at the front was described as a snug, but being dominated by a pool table and darts board felt more like a public bar. There was a minimal amount of seating off to one side, and a few more tables and chairs opposite the bar counter. Flooring was wood strip, and there was wooden panelling on the lower part of the walls that had been painted in a Farrow & Ball brown, whilst very pale yellow paintwork was elsewhere. A large map of the world was on one wall and there were a few old black and white photographs of the locale. A stone fireplace was off to one side with a pile of logs stacked up ready for the colder weather, and a TV was showing the tennis. As mentioned previously, it extended some considerable way at the rear, with the furthest section having a large vaulted ceiling, although we did not investigate this as it was full of diners. We didn’t study the menu, but noticed a blackboard offering a selection of tapas and pizza options, and this was apparently also available to take away. Beers on tap were Cheddar’s Gorge Best and Butcombe, whilst a third pump appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Dry and Ashton Press.