Glastonbury has plenty of pubs to choose from and if you plan to explore outside the town, some amazing pubs await.
This article covers pubs within a half hour drive (ish) from Glastonbury Town centre that we feel are special and well worth a visit.
In order of distance from the town centre…
- The Sheppey Inn (13 minutes – 4 miles from the centre of Glastonbury)
A: Lower Godney, WELLS, BA5 1RZ
WWW: The Sheppey InnHead North out of Glastonbury to the edge of the Somerset Wetlands National Nature Reserve and the ancient Isle of Godney where you will find a tardis-like, hospitable pub – The Sheppey Inn.A 17th century former cider house, the Sheppey is renowned for its riverside beer garden and terrace with decking overlooking the river from which it takes its name and is perfect for a sundowner.
The Sheppey has regular live music with a mix of indie and all-time classics. The food is as creative as the tunes and a menu that changes frequently, sometimes daily, as the chefs use fresh local produce that is seasonal.
Choose from a large selection of ales on tap, a Sheppey Cosmo cocktail, natural wine or something from the casks of local cider.
In 2021 the Sheppey featured in The Guardian newspaper as one of the 10 best Somerset pubs with beer gardens or outdoor space while in 2019 The Times labelled the inn as “a bit bonkers”.
Over 70% Tripadvisor reviews rated their experience of the Sheppey as Excellent.
- The George Inn (16 minutes – 8 miles)
A: Long Street, Croscombe, WELLS, BA5 3QH
WWW: The George InnAward-winning 17th Century free house in the heart of the village. Recognised in the Good Pub Guide, The George normally keeps two real ales on tap at any one time. The “King George The Thirst” and “George and the Dragon” are brewed exclusively for The George by Blindman’s Brewery in Leighton, just five miles outside of Shepton Mallet. They use Mendip spring water, Warminster malt and some Canadian Chinook hops for extra zest.The George keep other local and national guest ales on tap as well. These include beers from Butcombe, Bath Ales, Cheddar Ales, Moor, Glastonbury, Arbor Ales, Plain Ales, Hopback, Cotleigh, Exmoor Ales and St Austell.
We serve four or more local ciders. Our sparkling ciders are from Thatchers Cider 15 miles away and Mallets cider from Shepton Mallet, just three miles away. Mallets is produced by Brothers Cider of Glastonbury Festival fame. Our still, traditional cider is the Stone’s Family Cider, also produced in Shepton Mallet but only two miles away! We are especially pleased to serve Stone’s cider as it is made by historian, author and cider drinker and ‘expert’ Alan Stone. Alan can sometimes be found at the bar and will be happy to tell you more about his cider books and cider making experiences!
You will be made personally welcome by the licensees in the main bar where there’s stripped stone, dark wooden tables and chairs and more comfortable seats, a settle by one of the log fires in the inglenook fireplaces and the family’s grandfather clock; a snug area has a woodburning stove. There’s Canadian timber and a pew reclaimed from the local church in the back bar, plus a family room with games and books for children; darts, board games, shove-ha’penny and a Canadian table game called crokinole. There are folk music, steak and curry nights, and the pub dog is called Pixie. An attractive, sizeable garden has seats on a heated and covered terrace, flower borders, a grassed area, a wood-fired pizza oven (used on Fridays) and chickens; children’s swings.
- The Duck (17 minutes – 8 miles)
A: Station Road, Burtle, BRIDGWATER, TA7 8NU
WWW: The DuckThe multi-award winning Duck is in a remote location halfway between Burnham-on-Sea and Glastonbury and for many years has been a popular drinking spot; previously as the Tom Mogg Inn. The Duck is the third reincarnation of a pub on this site and it all began in 1856 with the railways. The first pub, The Railway Hotel, was built next to the new Edington Road railway station, to service the needs of rail workers and travellers. Much closer to Burtle than Edington it was later renamed the Edington Burtle station. The railway was an important part of local life for almost 100 years when, in 1966, the station fell foul of the Beecham Axe and was closed.The hotel later merged with the station building to form a larger pub retaining it’s name as The Railway Hotel for another 14 years. In 1980 the pub was renamed The Tom Mogg Inn, after a local signalman who worked at Eddington Junction. Tom was a regular at the pub and the sign depicts him in his uniform ringing a large brass bell.
Jump forward another 50 years and the pub was refurbished; inspired by the bird life on the surrounding wetlands and to reflect it’s location by the river, The Duck was hatched!
- Halfway House (20 minutes – 11 miles)
A: Pitney Hill, LANGPORT, TA10 9AB
WWW: Halfway HouseThe Halfway House is an authentic rustic pub with a slate floor worn smooth by the tread of generations of drinkers, a faint scent of wood smoke from the fireplaces and the delicious scent of home cooking coming from the kitchen. A fenced garden has tables and benches to relax and enjoy.
The Halfway House is at Pitney Hill – named because it is located midway between Langport and Somerton on the B3513.
Dating back 150 years when it was originally a cider house with flagstone floors, whitewashed walls, large sociable wooden tables and pews, a few comfy sofas and, above all, a welcoming atmosphere for everyone from muddy-footed farmers, to young mothers with their children, smart-suited businessmen, walkers and their dogs, cyclists, holidaymakers and passers-by.
Its ambiance and atmosphere and its dedication to serving quality conditioned real ale, has led the Halfway House securing a listing in the coveted Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide for three decades.
The Times Britain’s 20 Best Pubs in the Countryside and a Tripadvisor rating of 4.5 from over 300 reviews.
- The Natterjack Inn (21 minutes – 12 miles)
A: Evercreech Junction, Evercreech, SHEPTON MALLET, BA4 6NA
WWW: The Natterjack InnThe Natterjack Inn started life as The Railway Hotel, as it is situated on the edge of the former station of Evercreech Junction on The Somerset & Dorset Railway Line. The Junction was opened on 3rd Feb 1862 and finally closed to passengers on 7th March 1966. Today the Natterjack continues in the tradition of a community pub, welcoming all and offering good food in comfortable and friendly surroundings. The Natterjack source from local suppliers to offer fresh, local, and seasonal produce and also keep their environmental footprint to a minimum.The Natterjack has over 700 reviews on Tripadvisor of which more than 70% are Excellent.
- Oakhill Inn (22 minutes – 12 miles)
A: Fosse Road, Oakhill, RADSTOCK, BA3 5HU
WWW: Oakhill InnEstablished in 1767 as the brewery tap for the world-famous Oakhill Brewery, the Oakhill Inn is now an award-winning bed and breakfast boasting five four-star en-suite rooms and an AA rosette-awarded restaurant. The Oakhill Brewery stopped brewing in 2005, but has retained its historic links with the art of brewing with its own eponymous house ale exclusively brewed by Danish master brewer Stig Anker Andersen. The bar boasts a handsome selection of local ales and ciders, as well as some amazing cider brandies and single-malt whiskies. The extensive wine list boasts a great selection of wine by the glass and an award-winning Prosecco.Customers can dine in front of wood-burning stoves alongside the open kitchen where the chefs are busy at work. Alternatively, head outside to the sunny walled garden, or just sink into a comfy sofa with a paper and pint. Menus change regularly and are jam-packed with the best seasonal ingredients and modern British dishes. The bar menu features a variety of pub classics including fish and triple-cooked chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce, bubble and squeak, and Cornish mussels with sourdough bread. The Oakhill’s head chef and kitchen team love chargrilling steaks on the Josper charcoal-fired oven, and serving fantastic handmade sourdough pizzas that are cooked to order in the new Italian stone-based oven. Traditional Sunday roasts are served with all the trimmings and children are given complimentary gifts to keep them busy at the table. If you have room for a pudding you must try the Knickerbocker Glory. Seasonal variations of this classic and other indulgent desserts are hugely popular and feature homemade ice cream made from cream from the dairy just one mile down the road.
- The Litton (25 minutes – 13 miles)
A: Litton RADSTOCK, BA3 4PW
WWW: The Litton15th-century inn with gnarly beams and flagstone floors for those looking for fun; there are lightbulbs hung from industrial winches, cocktails in a horsebox, and cushions strapped to benches with stirrups. At the long main bar and smaller Whiskey Bar, seats are draped in reindeer skins, while graphic art posters for rock concerts hang on the walls. The various smaller nooks are welcoming spots, with working fires beneath wooden beams. There is also a full suit of armour – Eric – in one corner, who has been at the pub for decades. Terraces feature a selection of fire-pits and a crafted seating area filled with lighting capturing the ambience of the pub all year round, making for perfect outdoor dining. Covered with canopies so you can enjoy the outdoors come rain or shine!With Tripadvisor rating of 4.5, and over 70% of reviews rating The Litton as excellent.
“One of the best pubs in Somerset, with definitely the best sticky toffee pudding!”
- The Kings Head (26 minutes – 14 miles)
A: 1 Silver Street, CHEDDAR, BS27 3LE
WWW: The Kings HeadSitting off the beaten trail in the village of Cheddar and within walking distance of Cheddar Gorge, The King’s Head is one of the village’s best kept secrets – but it is simply too lovely not to share. This traditional local pub in a beautiful 17th Century Grade II listed building is character-rich with two cosy rooms either side of the bar. On offer are board games, an enclosed garden, covered outside seating, a dog friendly welcome and a car park. The lounge area is equipped with a toasty woodburner making it a welcoming spot to while away a cold and dark evening.At The King’s Head they love pies! The King’s Head is a pie and mash pub serving a range of award winning Jarvis Pickle Pies and Bristol Pieminister Pies with mash, veg and gravy.
- The Bay Tree (27 minutes – 14 miles)
A: South Street, CASTLE CARY, BA7 7ET
WWW: The Bay Tree – FacebookPretty Grade II-listed pub. Tripadvisor bubble rating 5.0 from 153 reviews (latest rating and reviews here) it is no surprise that The Bay Tree has won the Tripadvisor 2022 Travellers’ Choice Award Winners top 10% of restaurants worldwide.This review sums it up ‘Proper pub, lovely atmosphere, not crowded with tables, food spot on!’
- The Holcombe Inn (31 minutes – 15 miles)
A: Stratton Road, Holcombe, RADSTOCK, BA3 5EB
WWW: The Holcombe InnOver 70% of reviewers on Tripadvisor rated the Holcombe as excellent so it is no surprise that the Holcombe has featured in many articles and the Good Pub Guide Recommended in 2021. Could this be Somerset’s greenest country inn? The 17th-century inn is surrounded by two acres of land on which are grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers for the Holcombe’s hyper-seasonal menus. What cannot be cultivated on‑site is sourced from local Somerset producers. The same ethos extends to the meat and fish.Any kitchen food waste is composted, while cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel. The duo have also rewilded areas of their land to benefit wildlife and introduced a beehive to harvest Holcombe honey.
The bar features fine old flagstones, window seats around pine-topped tables, and a carved wooden counter where they serve a fine selection of beers on handpump, a good number of wines and champagne by the glass, 25 malt whiskies, cocktails, and a thoughtful choice of local drinks with board games and background music to add to the experience. A two-way woodburning stove also warms the dining room, which has partitions to create snug seating areas. Just off here is a little sitting area serving specialist teas and coffees. The terrace and side lawn make the most of the stunning sunsets.
Do you know any pubs near Glastonbury that are worth a visit?
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