News and Features

The Wealth of Wedmore

by Laura Bethell

Sitting comfortably within the Somerset Levels, Wedmore has a strong affiliation with local produce, support for agricultural businesses and a love of celebrating the seasons.  Highlights include a street fair, Harvest Home, Wedmore by Candlelight and the Real Ale Festival.

The Market Cross in the centre of the village dates back to the 14th century, when Wedmore was the centre for the surrounding agricultural areas, holding weekly markets. To this day it continues to be a thriving and bustling village.

In 2009, the village won the highly acclaimed ‘Best local food town or village’ in the annual Taste of Somerset Awards. Wedmore is a food destination definitely worth a visit.

J.P.Baker & Sons (The Somerset Sausage Company)

This small and friendly butchers has been running for over 150 years, and for the last 20 years it has been run by Jim Baker. The shop itself stocks a wide range of local meats, but Jim and his business partner Mike Carthy have since formed a sister venture, The Somerset Sausage Company. Here you can buy your sausages online, Somerset produce delivered directly to your door....fantastic!

Pop into the shop to buy some of these incredible sausages, and support a real champion of using local produce.    more

The Dining Room

Owner/chef Martin Lucas sources his ingredients locally and offers delicious home-cooked lunches and snacks, teas and coffees. The Dining Room also opens for ‘Special Evenings’, with live music and themed meals. With a new tea garden planned, and the home-made scones and cakes on offer, this is a great choice for a relaxing treat.    more

Hectors Farm Shop

A warm welcome greets you from Alan Hector and his team. Finalists in the 2009 and 2010 Taste of Somerset Awards for ‘Best Meat producer’ the choice and quality of the meat and produce is abundantly clear. All of the pork, beef and lamb are either reared on the Hectors farm or on surrounding farms. A great one stop shop, with products ranging from local Somerset cheeses, to bread, cereal, cream and home-made pork pies.

Pumpkin Delicatessen & Cafe

Owner Lisa Later offers an impressive 80-90% local produce, including award-winning bread, pastries, quiches and cheeses, in this modern and friendly deli. Enjoy seasonal and local light lunches, or a homemade cake with a coffee on the relaxing terrace, and watch the world go buy in this thriving village. Whether you’re looking for a scrumptious snack, or some local ingredients, Pumpkin Delicatessen is a Somerset store promoting eating and buying locally to its best.    more

The New Inn

The New Inn is a small, cosy traditional pub, run by Frank Sparks and his partner Debra Noon. With most of the real ales on offer coming from within 30 miles of the pub, and a menu crammed full of homemade dishes, this is a chance to enjoy good pub food at reasonable prices. Look out for  quirky events going on throughout the year.   more

Sweets Tea Rooms

Whether you’re a family looking to explore the beautiful nature reserves, a cyclist or a walker, the tea rooms between Wedmore and Westhay is somewhere you should definitely try.  With homemade dishes and a great range of cakes, ingredients sourced from local suppliers, Victoria and Rob Sweet have firmly put themselves on the map since opening in 2008. Enjoy the surroundings of the Somerset countryside, and make Sweets Tea Rooms your base for the day, from breakfast, lunch through to a late afternoon coffee and cake, you will be glad that you have found this gem of a tea room. The breakfasts are renowned, and the Shepherd’s pie is made to a family recipe. All dishes are cooked fresh to order, and at very reasonable prices. Insider tip - the aptly named ‘Victoria sponge cake’ made by Victoria herself is truly wonderful!

The George Inn

This stunning 16th century coaching inn sits in the heart of Wedmore, with a contemporary feel inside and plenty of tables outside to enjoy a cool drink on a sunny day, this is an ideal drive-to eatery. Owners Rachel White and Gordon Stevens offer a warm welcome to all.

The menu consists of fantastic, local, fresh dishes, and is not normal ‘pub grub’ fayre. An ever popular choice is the locally shot pigeon, which owner Rachel said ‘was flying out’!    more

The Isle of Wedmore Golf Club

With breathtaking views, this serene restaurant is a must, open to non-members as well as golfers; it’s a chance to dine in a peaceful environment whilst enjoying the best of the Wedmore countryside. The restaurant is open for home-cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, and the very popular Sunday lunches. Manager Mark Foster has a new emphasis on sourcing produce locally and has a host of local suppliers. The Golf Club has recently been awarded the 5 star Foodscore award by Sedgemoor Council.

The Panborough Inn

The Panborough Inn is owned and run by two generations of the same family, and proudly boasts that there is always a family member on duty to ensure your experience is relaxing and enjoyable. The steak and ale pie is a favourite, with tender steak from a local butcher and Butcombe ale; it is a popular dish worth the travel. With an abundance of homemade dishes on offer, and set menus, there are meals to suit all tastes and budgets.   more