Pub near Wells named among the UK’s best for second year running

By Laura Linham 3rd Aug 2026

Local News by Laura Linham 1 hour ago

A traditional Mendip pub near Wells has been named among the best in the country for the second year running.

The Hunters Lodge Inn at Priddy is one of 650 venues selected for The Telegraph's Best Pubs in the UK guide for 2026.

It is one of 11 Somerset pubs included in the national guide, which has expanded beyond England for the first time this year.

The recognition comes a year after the Hunters Lodge Inn was named among The Telegraph's 500 best pubs in England.

The Old Bristol Road pub is well known for resisting many of the changes that have swept through the industry. Mobile phones are not allowed, card payments are unavailable and its traditional approach has earned it a loyal following among locals, walkers and cavers.

It serves traditional ales and local cider, while folk musicians gather at the pub for an informal session each Tuesday.

The pub has also been run by the same landlord for more than half a century.

Introducing its 2026 guide, The Telegraph said: "Welcome to The Telegraph's expert guide to the Best Pubs in the UK. Following the success of last year's 500 Best Pubs in England, we have expanded our horizons for 2026.

"The criteria for inclusion – charming character, welcoming staff, rich history and, of course, award-winning beer – remains the same, but venues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have been added.

"Our new guide still showcases 500 pubs in England, including dozens of new entries, but also now includes 75 in Scotland, 50 in Wales and 25 in Northern Ireland. Every one of the 650 listed establishments has been tried and tested by our panel of six experts. Together they represent the very best the country has to offer."

The Hunters Lodge Inn is joined by ten other Somerset venues.

The county's entries are:

The Rose & Crown, Langport
The Muddled Man, West Chinnock
The Ship Inn, Porlock
The Hunters Lodge Inn, Priddy
The Seymour Arms, Witham Friary
Tuckers Grave, Radstock
The Black Horse, Clapton-in-Gordano
The George, Norton St Philip
The Old Green Tree, Bath
The Star Inn, Bath
The Coeur de Lion, Bath

The expanded guide contains 500 pubs in England, 75 in Scotland, 50 in Wales and 25 in Northern Ireland.

Venues were assessed on factors including their character, staff, history and beer, with all 650 visited by members of The Telegraph's six-person expert panel.

For the Hunters Lodge Inn, the latest inclusion confirms that no mobile signal, no card machine and no rush to modernise can still carry considerable national appeal.