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The Carpenters Arms - Stanton Wick

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Chic countryside pub with rooms

Deep in the heart of the rolling Somerset countryside, The Carpenters Arms is a pretty village pub with a difference. Yes, it’s charmingly old - the building was formerly a row of stone miners’ cottages; yes, it’s surrounded by far-reaching views that tempt even the laziest person to enjoy a long, post-lunch ramble; yes, the real ale flows and local produce makes for a delicious pub grub menu; and yes, the locals love it. But venture upstairs to the Carpenters Arms’ bedrooms and you’ll find twelve luxury boltholes fit for the chic-est boutique retreat. It really is a heaven-sent combination.

Each of the comfy, cosy bedrooms has been done up in a cool, contemporary style, with neutral colour schemes, crisp bed linen and relaxed lighting. The low ceilings and pretty windows that come with an old building like this one make everything even cosier. All the rooms have shiny en-suite bathrooms with a bath and a shower, plus fluffy towels and great toiletries, while little extras like the flat screen tellies are the icing on the cake.

Downstairs, the uber-cosy bar, with its woodburning stoves and squishy chairs, is ideal for winter snuggling, while there’s plenty of outdoor seating for summer Pimms and pints. The food is fantastic too - regularly changing, way-above-average pub grub menus using loads of seasonal West Country produce and fresh veg. Perfect for recharging after a day of fresh air.

Where is it?

The little hamlet of Stanton Wick sits in the undulating, tranquil Chew Valley - you’d never know it was just 8 miles to the centre of Bristol. The closest village is historic Pensford, a very pleasant mile’s walk away. Dwarfed by an impressive, disused Victorian viaduct, it’s a pretty little place that’s perfect for a potter and a pint, with its medieval three-arched bridge crossing the bubbling River Chew, jumble of listed cottages, three pubs and the picturesque Thomas a Becket church that sits on its own little island mid-river. The village is a starting point for some lovely walks - the two-mile riverside walk to the ancient village of Stanton Drew and its famous stone circles is particularly lovely. For a real challenge, try the 16.5-mile Three Peaks circular walk that starts at Pensford and takes in Maes Knoll, Knowle Hill and Blackberry Hill. For maps and a detailed route, log on to the Forest of Avon website (www.forestofavon.org).

To the west of Stanton Wick are the lovely Mendip Hills - an Official Area of Outstanding Beauty. Miles of great walking and biking trails cross the hills - for details of six stunning routes, log on to the Mendips AONB website (www.mendiphills.org.uk). For a big range of cycles for hire, visit Bike City (www.bikecity.biz) in Wells, 15 miles from the Carpenters Arms.

The Mendips aren’t only for walking or cycling over, they’re also home to some real must-sees. The famous village of Cheddar is just 13 miles from Stanton Wick, and you needn’t be on a school trip to enjoy it. Dominated by the rocky outcrops towering above it, the pretty village gets over-run in the summer, but can be a lovely place to be off-season. But of course, the main attraction is the dramatic Cheddar Gorge, the largest of its kind in the UK and recntly named as the second greatest natural wonder in Britain. The Gorge and the famous Cheddar Caves (www.cheddarcaves.com Tel: 01934 742343) are properly impressive, with a quarter of a mile’s worth of magical underground caverns to explore. To enjoy the gorge, but escape the crowds, walk the signposted, 3-mile Gorge Walk through the lovely rocky grasslands that top each side of the crevass.

Of course, you couldn’t visit Cheddar without doing something slightly cheesy, and a visit to The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company (www.cheddargorgecheeseco.co.uk Tel: 01934 742810), the last cheesemakers in Cheddar, won’t disappoint.

For a lovely day out that’s a little more refined, visit Wells, the smallest city in England, and a lovely place to spend an afternoon. For more details on what to see and where to eat in the shadow of Wells’ beautiful cathedral, read The Weekenders Guide to Wells. And if Wells wets your appetite for stunning British cities, why not go the whole hog and ‘do’ Bath - just 11 miles east of Stanton Wick. A mecca for romantic Weekenders everywhere, it’s almost impossible to resist the temptation. For the full city guide, read The Weekenders Guide to Bath.

Where can I eat?

The food at The Carpenters Arms is delicious and, just as importantly, within stumbling distance of your very comfy bed. If you are looking for alternatives, however, there are plenty of lovely places to eat nearby.

For a huge range of eating options, venture the 8 miles out of the countryside and into central Bristol, where the culinary scene is growing at an alarming rate. From big, fine-dining giants such as Michelin-starred Michael Caine’s amazing restaurant at the Royal Marriott Hotel (Tel: 0117 9105309), with its neo-classic vaulted dining room setting off some world-class cooking perfectly, to cosier options such as the fantastic Bell’s Diner (www.bellsdiner.com Tel: 0117 9240357) and its Blumenthal-esque innovative menus or Deason’s (www.deasons.co.uk Tel: 0117 9736230), home to stylish and mouth-watering British classics. It’s all too much for one stomach and one weekend, but if you’re inspired to return and really gorge yourself then read The Weekenders Guide to Bristol for even more places to eat in the city.

If it’s romantic, rural calm and a Michelin star that you’re after, then the Moody Goose (www.moodygoose.co.uk Tel: 01761 416784) in pretty Midsomer Norton, 8 miles from Stanton Wick, is spot-on. Owner and highly-acclaimed head chef Stephen Shore presides over a relaxed and airy dining room that is just as perfect for a very special lunch as it is for a romantic evening’s dinner. British-led menus made with the freshest ingredients, including the best in local and seasonal fare, are amazing, while the puddings are to die for.

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Deep in the heart of the rolling Somerset countryside, The Carpenters Arms is a pretty village pub with a difference - twelve luxury bedroom boltholes fit for the chic-est boutique retreat.