The Bell Inn, Warminster

Booked in to meet family (Briz branch) for lunch Monday, then stay overnight with dogs. Arrived early & went in to ask where we could give dogs a spin before lunch, explaining we were staying the night. Young barman says ‘Aaah, got some bad news for you, problem with the plumbing, haven't got a room for you'. They ummed & aahed about the failure to notify us of this by phone (no number/wrong number bullshit) but, since we'd driven from London specifically to sample this pub, and were meeting another party there, this was a worthless defence. The chef came out, in filthy whites, to suggest an alternative couple of pubs nearby (&, to be fair, suggested the absent ‘owners' would pick up the room tab), but I was not prepared to rearrange a family meet at an unknown (unresearched) venue. I ordered a pint (of Pint) while I went to get the dogs and a pub guide from the car. I returned to find the pumpclip reversed, leaving just Bays Dumpling available from 6/7 handpumps. That's right – not a single Hidden beer available in a pub owned by Hidden Brewery; pathetic!! The building looks lovely and the bar area has a rustic charm but, without any direction (even the previously excellent website has been abandoned), the pub is destined to fail. Fyi, we managed to get a short-notice booking, incl dogs, at Hindon's Lamb, & diverted the Briz contingent there for lunch.