Riflemans Arms, Glastonbury

Sited so near Glastonbury Tor, it’s a surprise that this pub has retained its character, but it has. It has its roots in the 16th Century, though much of the structure is more modern. The business is currently owned by Enterprise. There is a large car park at the back, which is not immediately obvious from the road, and a paved patio area at the rear with pleasant views over the countryside. The frontage looks worn and uninviting, but once inside it’s a different story – friendly staff, lively locals and a warm, traditional pub atmosphere assisted by various architectural features including exposed structural timbers, an inglenook with a woodburner in the front bar, a log fire in the larger rear bar, and tiled floors. There are several rooms partly conjoined, so while it’s not fully open plan, it does feel very sociable. Dogs are invited in, children are tolerated but not encouraged. There is a gaming machine and a jukebox in the main bar area, and a separate pool room. We didn’t try the food but it looked like reasonable VFM. Ales on were Otter Amber and Hobgoblin, both in good condition. I could easily spend time here as it’s a relaxing, or I might be tempted to shoot back for one of their weekly live music evenings.

Everyone likes the riflemans.