The Swan

An 18th-century beer house turned coaching inn, The Swan is a bustling and much-loved pub at the heart of the pretty village of Wedmore on the mystical Somerset Levels. Locals throng in the open-plan bar with its crackling fires, cosy corners and flagstone floors. In a sunny lounge with overstuffed chairs and a wood burner you can exhale, relax and tuck into the cake stand and all-day snack menu. Sundays mean lazy roasts, newspapers and Bloody Marys.

The menu changes regularly, inspired by executive chef Tom Blake’s fresh market ingredients – eggs from Burnham-on-Sea, fish from Bridport, meat from the local butcher’s own herd. Bread is baked here and served with dinner or to take away. In summer, chefs make the most of a wood-burning oven and smoker in the lawned garden. Dogs are welcome in the bar and there are some fabulous walks on the Levels nearby and around Cheddar Gorge. If looking for a place to rest your head, there are several lovely rooms upstairs.