The Trotter Inn, Wedmore

As Jon has said below, this is a terrific, completely unspoilt country pub, somewhat off the beaten track although actually quite close to main the Cheddar to Wedmore road. Even when actively looking for it we struggled a bit, and at first thought it was closed with very little in the way of outside illumination to advertise it’s presence. Internally it consists of three rooms, with the “smoking room” and bar counter off to the right as you go in. Like the outside, this was quite dark which may either be cosy or gloomy depending on your point of view, but we thought it created a nice ambience. Paintwork on both the walls and ceilings was in the traditional mustard/nicotine colour of old pubs and there was carpet on the floor. A massive stone fire-place was off to the right that had a fire blazing away and a couple of punters were keeping this topped up with logs. A friendly dog was curled up on a chair just next to it. All sorts of knick-knacks were dotted around the walls, many of them farming related implements and also a couple of old rifles, pewter plates and an aerial photograph of the pub as well as a few horse brasses. A smaller snug to the rear was quite similar in terms of décor, with an old wooden pew providing the seating, a stuffed bird in a glass case and a few shelves in a corner crammed full of earthenware jugs and such like. The “Public Bar” off to the left included a pool table and darts board as well as a very dusty and ancient looking jukebox and fruit machine, although whether or not these were still operational I’m not sure. Beers on tap were 6X and Butcombe, the latter being dispensed directly from a couple of barrels racked up at the end of the bar. Unusually, there was no cider on tap. In a pub like this I would have expected a farmhouse variety of some sort, but other than some cans in the ‘fridge there was nothing at all. The landlord was a friendly chap and looked somewhat aghast when I enquired if they did food – clearly this isn’t a gastro-pub and I could see that there was nothing being offered on our Saturday evening visit, but I thought they may have done something on a lunchtime. But no, apparently a packet of crisps or a picked egg is as far as it goes! All in all, well worth seeking out.

After previously passing this pub in a former job in 2008 for 6 months I was 1 surprised to see it open and 2 surprised it wasn't gastro'd on a visit today. This is a pub that has escaped time and is a quality pub. A three roomed pub but the room to the left on entry with the pool table seems little used. Once in the main bar area this is set into a front and back room with a large inglenook fireplace in the main bar. The till in this pub is a combination of a shelf for notes, a couple of glasses for some coins on top of the narrow wooden drawer that is the actual till .Truely an unspoiled gem just outside Wedmore. Comes complete with a large ridgeback dog that enjoys climbing onto the window ledge to look out of the window. Note the limited opening hours to avoid disappointment. 6x appeared to be the draught ale on tap today with possibly Buttcombe available too.