The Place
We have known about this Wiltshire institution for a long time – it was one of the first places our series editor Fiona Duncan reviewed for her Telegraph column. We didn’t include it in Charming Small Hotels until now because although good, it wasn’t quite individual enough for our selection. Now Dan Brod and Charlie Luxton, owners of The Beckford Arms and other places, have taken it over, The Bath Arms has become more of its own man, more than just a bed for the night.
Note that there are several Bath Arms in the West Country. This one is near the Longleat tourist attractions in the village of Horningsham.
A major feature of the ground floor has long been the public bar, popular with locals, some of whom see it as their patch. Hotel guests will feel OK there, especially if they like cheerful banter and sometimes a bit of noise, but adjacent to it are several sitting and dining areas where you can be more low-key. On a recent visit our reporter thought the small supper dishes were well above average including a huge bowl of chilli and mayonnaise flavoured chips.
The bedrooms are all individually decorated in a rural chic style, tasteful with never an overstatement as you would expect from owners Dan Brod and Charlie Luxton. See their other places: The Beckford Arms, The Lord Poulett Arms and The Talbot Inn at Mells, all featured on this website.