The Alhampton Inn, Shepton Mallet

Facebook page of The Alhampton Inn - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Alhampton Inn - www.facebook.com

Since the previous review, I understand that this has been bought by the local community, and whilst we visited on a Tuesday afternoon just after they had opened at what would obviously be a quiet time, it was good to see another half dozen or so punters in there enjoying a convivial drink. The only food offering is Sunday lunch, but there are pop-up’s on a Tuesday and a Friday, and a pizza van was in the process of setting up outside when we were there. There’s a decent sized beer garden to the rear, as well as some quite extensive decking at the front. Internally it’s somewhat smaller than might be expected perhaps, with a small room to the left and a slightly larger one to the right. The one to the left seems to be where the locals congregate, with most engaging in vertical drinking at the bar, although they were welcoming and friendly rather than off-putting as can sometimes be the case. Indeed, seating options here are quite limited, with one four seater table, a small two seater and a higher one with some stools. Décor is a little more basic than I had expected, with a polished concrete floor and fairly plain walls, although there was also some exposed stone walling behind the bar counter and a stone fireplace off to the left which was filled with burning logs. The room to the right was a little more traditional perhaps, with some sort of wood strip on the floor and a few black beams on the ceiling, as well as some colourful artwork on the walls. Beers on tap were Adam Henson’s Rare Breed from Butcombe and Jaipur IPA, whilst a third pump appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were Heck’s, plus Gold and Dry from Thatcher’s. Overall, a pretty decent local, and worth stopping by if in the area.

Official site of The Alhampton Inn - alhamptoninn.uk

Official site of The Alhampton Inn - alhamptoninn.uk

A traditional village pub in a small, tidy village. There is a car park at the side and a lawned garden at the front with a few wooden tables and benches. The lawn immediately at the front of the pub is currently covered by a large marquee to provide extra seating. Inside, the bar to the left serves as a restaurant, while the smaller bar to the right is still a public bar, but due to its size it is somewhat limited – only two tables, meaning that unless you’re in a group the chances of getting a seat are slim. The décor is basic, functional, but the open fire makes it cosy and atmospheric. Food is bistro style, freshly cooked, priced higher than it needs to be. Two ales on – Fine Tuned Langport Bitter and Butcombe Rare Breed, both in excellent condition. The barman was very welcoming and helpful while the locals were quite friendly. An excellent pub, well worth a visit.