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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Crossways, Shepton Mallet
North Wootton
Postal town: Shepton Mallet
BA4 4EU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Crossways
Well described by ETA below, this certainly seems very out of place, both in terms of size and character, in it’s very rural setting. Many years ago it was renowned for it’s food, and people travelled from far and wide to visit. That all changed when one of the couple running it sadly passed away, and the remaining partner engaged in increasingly desperate attempts to woo the punters back and halt it’s inexorable decline, without any success.
Internally, it consists largely of one large, open plan room, although there is also a good sized function room off to the side, which I assume may also be used as a restaurant. The first thing you come to when entering is the hotel reception desk, and the décor and style did rather remind me of a Premier Inn bar or something similar, albeit perhaps slightly more upmarket. The flooring was mostly pale wood strip with some black and white tiling around the bar counter, whilst the ceiling was plain plasterwork with recessed downlighters and speakers. Walls were a mixture of Farrow & Ball paintwork with slatted and painted wood panelling elsewhere. Seating was a mixture of regular tables and chairs, padded armchairs with low tables, as well as a high table or two with stools. Some artificial foliage and the odd branded mirror completed the decorations, but there was really very little of any note. It was all very smartly done out, and perhaps as a bar in a city centre hotel it would have been quite pleasant, if lacking in any character. But in this remote village, it just seemed odd.
Beers on tap were Butcombe Original and Abbott Ale, whilst a third pump appeared unused. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Haze and Carling Black Fruits. The barmaid seemed to have a poor grasp of English and I had to repeat myself a number of times when ordering. Much like the previous reviewer, I think I’d be unlikely to drink here even if I lived in the village.
On 14th February 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2060 recommendations about 1962 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Crossways
This modern hotel seems a it out of place in its rural setting. It certainly isn't a quaint country pub, and there's little about it that appeals. It's on a huge site and has a carpark, art of which is unmade, which makes it feel like a cross between a cheap motel and an open prison. Indeed, given the name, I was half-expecting a Benny-like character to appear at any moment. On arriving, I thought that some idiot had accidentally left his stereo on full blast, but it turned out to be a talentless live act trying to beat Motorhead;s 1980 record for noisiest gig ever. The bar is reached by walking all the way to the front, past the residents' entrance. The large bar counter sits at one side of the dining area, which feels more like a motorway canteen than a cosy restaurant. Taking your beer - you're not allowed to sit down due to COVID restrictions - you are given the choice of the terrace bar or the new rooftop bar, both of which do have excellent views across the neighbouring countryside, ironically a view which, if looking from the other direction, would have been marred by the ugliness of the Crossways itself. The only ale on was Doombar, which was in poor condition but drinkable. The staff weren't particularly welcoming, and the barman didn't seem to know what he was doing. It's unlikely that I'll be back, and even if I lived in the village I'd probably drink elsewhere.
On 20th July 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3517 recommendations about 3481 pubs]