What
This glorious inn is the most recent addition to the Beckford group, a string of pubs and shops in the south-west that includes The Beckford Arms, The Talbot Inn, The Lord Poulett Arms, Bramley bath products and The Beckford Bottle Shop. Bought from the Longleat estate in 2020, the Wiltshire pub and its generous garden underwent a thorough and tasteful refurbishment and has been thriving since the lockdowns lifted.
Where
Since 1736, The Bath Arms has sat proudly on the edge of the Longleat estate. The ancient hostelry is in range of so much of what the southwest has to offer. Local highlights include the city of Bath, the National Trust garden at Stourhead and the charming town of Frome. Plus, you can walk out of the pub and embark on any number of the stunning countryside walks that Britain does so well.
The Welcome
We arrived, exhausted from a long and hot road trip, and salivated with envy at the sight of the peaceful punters enjoying a pint in the sunshine. The staff couldn’t have been more friendly. They took every care to make sure we were comfortable and happy and were full of spot-on advice about local things to do with our children, aged 12 and eight. Our favourite detail? The child-sized bottles of Bramley hair and body wash waiting for the boys on their towels.
The Rooms
The Bath Arms has 16 tastefully done bedrooms, some in the main building and others in the converted stables nearby. Ours was a lovely large double in the stables to which Soane fabrics, locally made Bramley goodies of every description and a radio playing peaceful classical music brought a touch of class. In our room was a vast freestanding bath, a plush sofa bed on which the boys bunked together and a separate shower room.
The Vibe
Guests come here to eat, drink, walk and unwind. The other people staying when we were ranged in age from 80 to eight – and all looked as happy as clams. The operation is slick enough to feel more like a hotel than just a pub with rooms.
Food & Drink
During our midsummer visit, we ate all our meals on the prettily lit and marquee-covered terrace. The dining room is very elegant, though, and we’d have happily embraced its cosy warmth. The cider-battered fish and chips were so good, we ordered them two nights in a row. The Full English Breakfast, with its tiny copper saucepan of baked beans, was a fortifying highlight for young and old. When the boys were peckish and headed to Reception in search of a snack, they came back wreathed in smiles and clutching Kit Kats. The Bath Arms sure knows its local beers; the wine list is magnificent; and the barman merrily knocked us up several killer Negronis. All bases are admirably covered.
Don’t Miss
A trip to Longleat Safari Park, which is literally on the doorstep. In 1966, the Marquess of Bath had the idea to open the first drive-through safari park outside of Africa on his Wiltshire estate. The 50 lions of Longleat, who moved in first, were quickly joined by giraffes, zebras, chimpanzees, hippos and more. Today, UK tourism offers few perkier sights than Longleat’s monkeys and their tiny babies leaping all over your car. The house (a masterpiece of Elizabethan architecture) and grounds (the handiwork of Capability Brown) are also open to the public. We adored the safari but didn’t have time for more and are already planning our next visit.
The Verdict
If you are after a super-comfortable night’s sleep, good food and pretty surroundings at reasonable prices (which you surely are), then you need look no further than The Bath Arms. With great flair, this family-friendly country pub does just what it says on the tin.
Book It
Doubles from £120. Book here.
By Becky Ladenburg
September 2022
