The Bell Inn, Warminster

The bad times experienced by Trainman appear to be long past, and Jonathan’s description is far closer to what I observed this visit, my first since Hidden Brewery days a decade or more ago. The pub has 14th Century origins though much of what is visible today is newer. The bar is formed from two previous rooms, the division still marked by a change in the level of the carpeted floor. There is a separate dining room where dogs are not allowed. There are plenty of structural timbers on display, many of them ancient oak, and there is an impressive brick inglenook with a real fire. The car park is a reasonable size, and there are wooden benches at the front for smokers and al fresco drinkers. Food is home cooked from fresh ingredients. Two ales on, Sheep Dip and Innocence from Plain Ales, both in great condition. The biggest downside is the prices – ales at around 12% above average and food around 20% up. Worth a visit when passing anThe bad times experienced by Trainman appear to be long past, and Jonathan’s description is far closer to what I observed this visit, my first since Hidden Brewery days a decade or more ago. The pub has 14th Century origins though much of what is visible today is newer. The bar is formed from two previous rooms, the division still marked by a change in the level of the carpeted floor. There is a separate dining room where dogs are not allowed. There are plenty of structural timbers on display, many of them ancient oak, and there is an impressive brick inglenook with a real fire. The car park is a reasonable size, and there are wooden benches at the front for smokers and al fresco drinkers. Food is home cooked from fresh ingredients. Two ales on, Sheep Dip and Innocence from Plain Ales, both in great condition. The biggest downside is the prices – ales at around 12% above average and food around 20% up. Worth a visit when passing and worth the short deviation from the A303 for lunch if you can afford it.d worth the short deviation from the A303 for lunch if you can afford it.

Booked in to meet family (Briz branch) for lunch Monday, then stay overnight with dogs. Arrived early & went in to ask where we could give dogs a spin before lunch, explaining we were staying the night. Young barman says ‘Aaah, got some bad news for you, problem with the plumbing, haven't got a room for you'. They ummed & aahed about the failure to notify us of this by phone (no number/wrong number bullshit) but, since we'd driven from London specifically to sample this pub, and were meeting another party there, this was a worthless defence. The chef came out, in filthy whites, to suggest an alternative couple of pubs nearby (&, to be fair, suggested the absent ‘owners' would pick up the room tab), but I was not prepared to rearrange a family meet at an unknown (unresearched) venue. I ordered a pint (of Pint) while I went to get the dogs and a pub guide from the car. I returned to find the pumpclip reversed, leaving just Bays Dumpling available from 6/7 handpumps. That's right – not a single Hidden beer available in a pub owned by Hidden Brewery; pathetic!! The building looks lovely and the bar area has a rustic charm but, without any direction (even the previously excellent website has been abandoned), the pub is destined to fail. Fyi, we managed to get a short-notice booking, incl dogs, at Hindon's Lamb, & diverted the Briz contingent there for lunch.