CHECK IN: LORD POULETT ARMS, ENGLAND
This lovely Somerset hotel in the adorably named Hinton St George (could a village sound more English?!) will forever have a very special place in my heart… it was where The Husband and I spent our first evening as a married couple!
We had planned to go abroad, but with the COVID 19 pandemic our wedding became a rather different affair to that we envisaged. When the staff at the Lord Poulett found out (I arrived still clutching my bouquet!) they went out of their way to ensure it was a really special stay despite the less-than-usual circumstances.
The owners have really captured the vibe of a cosy country home, with the warm atmosphere of a popular village pub. I think the Lord Poulett Arms offers really fantastic value for the level of comfort and service you get – and best of all they do seriously good pub food!
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Need to Know
The Headline The Quintessential English Pub with Extra Lashings of Style
Best For Foodie-loving weekenders looking for a cosy stay.
Amenities Bar and garden games. Wellies to borrow. Great restaurant serving sophisticated but classic pub grub and a cosy bar.
Getting There Exeter Airport is half an hour drive away, whilst London Heathrow is a two-hour drive. Crewkerne – the closest train station – is only ten minutes away.
Getting Around This is rural Somerset. You will want you own car to get out and explore. Montacute House is nearby, and for the more outdoorsy, the Blackdown Hills are only half an hour away.
Prices approx £100 per night: peak season is July to August.
The Location
The adorable village of Hinton St George is as English-country-village as they come. Honey coloured ancient stone and thatched cottages are tucked away amongst Somerset’s rolling hills. Despite its tranquillity it is only a short five-minute drive from the A303, and the south coast is within easy reach.
The Accommodation
The Lord Poulett Arms has been beautifully done up, and oozes charm. The building dates from 1680, and with only six rooms it has retained a very intimate feel. The vibe is firmly traditional country pub-with-rooms – pretty patterned wallpapers, tartan throws and mahogany period furniture.
Our lovely light-filled room (Number 4) had a large king size bed, ensuite loo and village views out the front of the pub. The bed was very comfortable – with a proper down duvet and Egyptian cotton sheets – and was cosily decorated with Welsh tartan rugs and stripped back stone walls. The handmade chocolates and fudge in the room were a delicious taste of the food to come.
I really enjoyed the standalone bath tub in our room – it was positioned in the window meaning I could watch the sun light up the golden stone cottage opposite whilst soaking in the morning. I also loved the locally made Bramley organic bath products provided.
Two of the rooms (Numbers 2 and 3) have private bathrooms across the corridor, rather than in the rooms themselves. But dressing gowns are provided and given the small number of guests you are unlikely to bump into your neighbours in your jim-jams!
The Extras
Fireplaces and flagstones abound in the open plan restaurant and bar area. Dried hops hang from the ceiling beams and tables are laid out with fresh flowers and brass candlesticks. Chess and billiards are on offer in the bar, and there are plenty of comfy sofas to settle in for a chat. The Husband was a big fan of the local Butcombe Brewery craft beers.
Outside has been done just as well – there is a French-style parterre and boules court, and an orchard garden with picnic tables.
Even if you can’t stay, I would strongly recommend coming to the Lord Poulett Arms for lunch or dinner. Everything is homemade – or cured, or smoked, in-house. The menu changes regularly and offers great pub grub, with an added touch of sophistication that takes it beyond your run-of-the-mill local pub. I was a seriously ravenous bride by the time we arrived, and the giant burger was deliciously peppery and moreish. Breakfast was just as good as dinner – we adored both the granola and the marmalade sausages!
Service is as friendly and relaxed as you would expect in your local pub, but delivered to the high standard the quality of food deserves.
I also really liked the subtle sustainable touches. Food is locally and seasonally sourced, the bathroom goodies are local and organic, and instead of an electricity-heavy mini fridge, rooms have cold milk in vacuum flasks.
The Less Loveable
Our room only had a bath with a shower attachment, but no standalone shower. Whilst I loved this, the six-foot-plus Husband had to wind himself into positions an Olympic gymnast would admire to be able to wash. This provided endless amusement for me, but I think if you were staying longer it might get a bit annoying to try and wash like that each morning if you are on the taller side! Rooms 3, 5 and 6 are probably the ones for our more vertically endowed readers.
If you are looking for other lovely places to stay, be sure to check out my sleep series. For ideas on how to spend your visit to the British Isles, check out my guides to the UK.
