The Cotley Inn

Reached by a winding country lane on the Cotley Estate, this is a pub you happen upon rather than drive to, with footpaths converging on the door from every direction. The setting is an original farmhouse in the Blackdown Hills, open fires and a log burner inside, and a south west facing terrace edged with lavender that looks across fields to the tower of Wambrook Church. Walkers have long treated it as a natural meeting point.

Menus follow the seasons and the estate on the doorstep, and the kitchen has held its Michelin Guide listing for 2026. Four ensuite bed and breakfast rooms occupy the grade II listed former stables, each with its own quirky original features. Lunch runs 12 to 2 and dinner 6.30 to 9 from Wednesday to Saturday, with drinks all day Friday and Saturday, and Sunday lunch until 3. Closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan accordingly.