Chard pub ‘delighted’ to be named among the best in Britain

The Cotley Inn near the village of Wambrook placed 80th in the guide’s list of the Top 100 Best Pubs in Britain. 

The list celebrates the nation’s “thriving appetite for genuine pubs with proper food and proper beer – and the growing number of venues that are delivering it.”  

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Maddie Beaumont, co-owner of the business, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be included in the first ever Good Food Guide Top 100 Pubs.  

“At The Cotley, we take great pride in the genuine warmth of our welcome - it’s something we believe is at the heart of every successful pub and our ethos follows a philosophy that we welcome guests as if they were dinner party guests in our own home.  

Located on the Cotley estate at the foot of the Blackdown Hills, the Cotley Inn provides food, drink, and accommodation in a rural setting.  (Image: The Cotley Inn)

“Creating an environment where everyone feels special is as important to us as the quality of our food and drink, and we’re thrilled to see that recognised by the Good Food Guide.” 

Located on the Cotley estate at the foot of the Blackdown Hills, The Cotley Inn provides food, drink, and accommodation in a rural setting. 

The inn serves lunches and suppers, along with a selection of local beers, which guests can enjoy on the south-west facing terrace or indoors by the fireplace. 

Its kitchen offers a seasonal menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, ranging from traditional pub dishes to multi-course meals. 

The venue welcomes dogs and walkers, maintaining its appeal as a countryside destination. 

In addition to the bar and restaurant, the Cotley Inn includes four ensuite bed and breakfast rooms situated in a converted Grade II listed former stable block. 

The inn includes four ensuite bed and breakfast rooms situated in a converted Grade II listed former stable block.  (Image: The Cotley Inn)

The Good Food Guide was established in 1951 and publishes its top 100 list annually – this year in partnership with Timothy Taylor’s Landlord and supported by Tracklements and Koffmann’s Potatoes.     

Editor of The Good Food Guide, Chloë Hamilton, said: “We went searching for the pubs that nail the drinking and dining side of the equation.      

“It turns out the harder you look the more you find, and they’re not all hidden away in the Cotswolds. The Highland Laddie – a city-centre slam dunk – is a very good case in point.”