A historic hotel in Wells has been spotlighted after its owner chain was ranked best in the UK in a major independent survey.

The Swan Hotel, located on Sadler Street in Wells, forms part of the Coaching Inn Group (CIG) which was placed first in a study by Which?, achieving a score of 81 % across categories including customer service, cleanliness, bed comfort and value for money.

The survey asked 1,776 guests to rate large hotel chains across the UK. CIG, which operates 35 "inn‑style" hotels across England and Wales, not only secured five stars for customer service and accuracy of online descriptions, but also earned four stars for value, despite an average room price of around £128.

Experts say The Swan Hotel—from the 15th century and a noted landmark in Wells—benefits from this parent chain's reputation for quality across historic properties. The Coaching Inn Group also owns hotels such as The Pheasant Hotel in Norfolk and The Kings Arms & Royal in Surrey.

Industry recognition for the group extended beyond the survey: earlier this year it was named 'Best Accommodation Operator' at the 2025 Publican Awards.

While the survey emphasises UK‑wide chain performance, the spotlight on The Swan Hotel in Wells offers a boost for local tourism and the city's hospitality profile.

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