Fosso Lounge, Wells

Facebook page of Fosso Lounge - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of Fosso Lounge - www.facebook.com

Well described by PSM, below, this is one of the Loungers chain and occupies what was once Woolworth’s. It was crowded with tourists and yummy mummies, and while the food was OK, the beer selection left a lot to be desired. Service was also slow and indifferent. No real ale, just Campcruzo, Moretti, Menebrae and Old Mout Cider. Fine for morning coffee but I concur that as pubs go it isn’t up to the mark.

This is a large food-led bar on the main street through the centre of Wells, forming part of the nation-wide Loungers chain. The pub has a large single room interior that stretches back a surprising distance and has been decorated in a very quirky style that really makes it stand out and which I have since come to learn is a trademark of this particular chain. The front part of the room has been rearranged to create a suitable greeter’s space where all the usual Covid paperwork can be completed before you are shown to a table. Some comfortable looking seating is available either side of this, extending into the pub until you reach the servery which is located midway down the left-hand wall. There are two rows of tables and chairs opposite the bar and then the room opens out again further to the rear, where plenty more seating can be found in front of the open kitchen on the back wall. Seating throughout comes in the form of padded chairs serving colourful tables, many of which have been painted with bight floral patterns on their surfaces. The walls have a low dado rail, above which is some pretty wild floral print wallpaper which is obscured for the most part by an enormous collection of framed paintings, mirrors, photographs, stuffed fish and all sorts of seemingly unrelated bits and bobs that look like they were bought as a job lot at an auction. The room has nice dark wood floorboards throughout and an unusual patterned ceiling with lincrusta along the beams and lintels. The bar has a fairly high wood panelled counter and modern glazed tile bar back with some basic shelving units topped with a series of figurines. Pop and dance music played in the background throughout out time here, much of it from the early to mid-90’s, which was a bit odd, but there was a sizeable crowd in whose collective murmurings ensured the music never became overpowering. Unfortunately, this chain doesn’t seem to bother with cask ale, so I was left to peruse the keg selection which included Brewdog Punk IPA and Dead Pony Club, although I found myself plumping for the Bath Ales Dark Side at £4.30 a pint – a strangely moreish beer that I quite happily sank a couple of pints of whilst we stopped here for some food one evening. The menu is quite varied and the dishes we tried were all pretty good – I would definitely try this chain again for their food. Overall though, despite the good food and wacky décor, this place didn’t quite work as a pub for me. It strikes me as a venue, and perhaps even a chain, with good intentions that don’t quite translate in the finished article. The place just felt far too much like a restaurant and whilst it might be a nice spot for non-pub goers to enjoy a cocktail or some wine, beer drinkers would be better advised to look elsewhere.

Official site of Fosso Lounge - thelounges.co.uk

Official site of Fosso Lounge - thelounges.co.uk