The Bell on the Common

The Bell on the Common is popular with the locals, as well as those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is beautifully set next to Broughton Gifford’s 27 acre common, and provides an array of tantalising dishes at both lunchtimes and evenings.
It has a warm and friendly atmosphere and offers a wide range of good home-cooked food at reasonable prices from bar snacks to a full a la carte menu in its intimate restaurant. It has been run by Tony and Dorothy Stanley for over 20 years and they concentrate on maintaining the unique atmosphere of a traditional village pub.
Customers can choose from a variety of meals which include sandwiches, jacket potatoes and ploughmans to Sunday roast, a-la-carte, young at heart for the over 60s and a children’s menu.
All meals are very reasonably priced while all the meat and vegetables used are bought locally.
“We are very much traditionalists and have tried to ensure that we keep the character of the pub, which means we haven’t got rid of the copper bar or the fireplace, which has won an award for the best coal fire of the year in a public house!” said Tony.
“We have a 34 seater restaurant offering traditional pub food, daily specials and our popular Sunday roasts which attracts people from far and wide.”
The pub also serves Wadworths traditional ales such as 6X and IPA, along with seasonal beers and there is also a wide selection of ciders, lagers and bottled beers.
As well as the attraction of Broughton Gifford Common, The Bell itself has an award-winning garden which backs onto a green at the rear. The pub is the hub of the local community with a thriving quiz night and is home to the village darts, skittles, cricket and football teams.
It has been nominated in the past for a Community Pub of the Year award by the Brewer’s and Retailers Association.
The Bell on the Common is open from 11.00am and food is served from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and 6.00pm to 9.00pm Sunday to Thursday and 5.00pm to 9.00pm on Saturdays.
To book a table or for more information, telephone The Bell on the Common on 01225 782309.

History of the Bell on the Common..

• It is very difficult to establish exactly how old the Bell is. It was purchased in 1780 together with other properties in the parish by, Lord of the Manor, Sir Benjamin Hobhouse. There is every reason to suppose that it was, and had been a public house for many years then, and was certainly a central meeting place of the village.
• An upstairs room at the rear of the Bell was known as the clubroom and was accessible by a stone staircase leading from the backyard. It was in this room in 1915 that the last Court Leet of the parish was convened when the occupants of the common had to decide on the future development, maintenance and administration of it.
• Before the First World War, the Bell was the scene of an annual cricket match between the local village team and an eleven brought from Oakhill, near Shepton Mallett by Sir Reginald Hobhouse. The game, a day long affair, was played on the common with refreshments served in the bar.
• Much of the original building is still unchanged today. The mounting block outside the main entrance is considered to be well over 200 years old.