The Wookey Hole Inn, Wells

A slightly unusual pub just around the corner from the Wookey Hole caves, it has an attractive timbered appearance from outside it has a somewhat odd feel inside that’s difficult to put my finger on. Slightly hippyish perhaps, I’m not sure, but definitely not your usual pub ambience. The majority of the pub appears to be given over to dining with virtually all tables being laid up for food, even to the extent of having tablecloths on. Clearly not intended to encourage drinkers. The only options for anyone not eating were a long solid bench style table at the rear and a small snug area, or in the warmer weather the terraced garden at the rear. That said, it certainly doesn’t strike me as a gastropub either. Flooring is mostly wood strip, with quarry tiles at the front and some further tiling around the bar area. The snug was a fairly compact space with an arched ceiling and a free-standing wood burning stove to one side. Paintwork was a mixture of dark hues such as brown, red and purple making it feel somewhat sombre although there was also some colourful artwork on the walls. Some sofa style seating was around the perimeter and a number of low tables. Various furry animals such as wombles and meerkats were on a shelf running around the top of the wall, and other small furry animals were clinging to the ventilation ducting. Elsewhere the colour scheme was a little more cheerful with pastel shades of green and pink. Many of the windows contained stained glass. Beers on tap were all fairly local with Cheddar’s Potholer, Cottage Brewing’s Somerset & Dorset and Glastonbury’s Excalibur. Ciders too were all quite local with Thatcher’s Gold, Thatcher’s Haze, Brother’s Pear and Wilkins.

Official site of The Wookey Hole Inn - www.wookeyholeinn.com

Official site of The Wookey Hole Inn - www.wookeyholeinn.com