ReviewOccupying a remote location in the Somerset countryside a few miles away from Frome, is The Seymour Arms, another fine example of a basic unspoilt, simple, rural pub.
Outside on the stone wall an old small sign still advertises Ushers Fine Ales. Note also the old wrought iron pub sign projecting out from one corner of the building. The pub building dates back to the 1860’s.
A central flagstoned corridor leads to a small bar counter with a two part sash window glazed screen in front. This small lobby in front of the counter appears to be the favoured location of the regulars.
Either side of this corridor is a basic, no frills unspoilt room. The larger room is on the left and features fixed seating around the perimeter, half height turquoise painted wood panelling and a bar skittles set on a table in the middle of the room. Several books of photos on a shelf bear testimony to the fact that The Seymour Arms is clearly a pub at the heart of the local community, although it was very quiet on my recent midweek September lunchtime visit.
The smaller room on the right is equally basic and features a bar billiards table.
The pub is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors.
There’s a pleasant garden at the side, but the peace and tranquillity is somewhat spoilt by the high speed trains hurtling past at the bottom of the garden at frequent intervals.
The pub sells more cider than beer. On my recent visit, it was not immediately obvious whether any real ale was available. Ushers has not been sold for years, but the longstanding elderly landlord, John, disappeared into the ground floor “cellar” and, after what seemed an eternity, reappeared with a pint of Butcombe Bitter at an exceptionally cheap £ 2.30p.
With only one real ale and a basic simple interior, this pub won’t appeal to everybody. But if you like unspoilt, unaltered, rural pubs like this, where the occasional passing visitor receives a warm welcome, you should make the effort to get here – but, beware, it takes some finding
