The Beaufort Arms, Badminton

Nice pub - huge car park around the rear. Evidence of its former name - the Duke of Beaufort. A bar and lounge. Excellent pint of Butcombe Chinook (never seen previously) and very knowledgeable and friendly locals who were keen to tell me about the history of the village. A successful day out - Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/1XgN1ck

A traditional, stone built pub in this small village, it would appear to be a popular spot with locals but on a recent Sunday afternoon visit there were clearly a number of visitors there, no doubt due to the fact that one of the eighty Gromits from the “Gromit Unleashed” trail currently on around Bristol was in the small beer garden at the back. The pub consists of three rooms. The public bar at the front of the pub is the smallest, and this was a pleasant room with beams on the ceiling, mustard colour paintwork and dark wood panelling on the lower part of the walls. Flooring was mostly wood and there was a brick fire-place to one side with a wood burning stove. A plasma was stuck on the wall above this which spoilt the look of the brick chimney breast somewhat, but at least it was turned off. An old ship’s lantern was sat on top of the stove and there was various brewery memorabilia about such as old mirrors from Bass and Youngs. To the rear of this is a much larger room that looks as though it was a skittle alley at one time, and perhaps still is, but also doubles as a function room. This had a high vaulted ceiling and a number of old metal advertising signs were on the walls from companies such as Cadburys and the Western Daily Press. There was some flagstone flooring in here besides light wood strip. A lounge bar to the right had slightly more of a food focus with some tables being reserved, but was still a pleasant room and there were a few punters sat up on stools at the bar. Beers on tap were Cotswold Spring’s Stunner, Bath Ales Spa and Bristol Beer Factory’s Acer. Another pump for BBF No. 7 appeared to have run out. Ciders were also well represented with Stowford Press and Ashton Press as well as both Bounders and Bounders Traditional from Bath Ales.