Autumnal Ambrosia: The Three Horseshoes, a 17th-Century Pub in Somerset

Dubbed the “most hotly anticipated new boozer of the year,” The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe, Somerset, UK, opened this spring and has quietly lured patrons from far and wide ever since. The biggest attraction is undoubtedly the food, which is overseen by Margot Henderson of London’s Rochelle Canteen. Her gutsy, fuss-free fare is perfectly at home in the boots-on atmosphere of this flagstone bar and dining room.

Let’s take a look around:

The pub, which is set in the shadow of the village church, belongs to the former gallerist, antiques collector, and investor Max Wigram, who has local ties. A longtime fan of Margot’s food, he brought her in to oversee the menu when the pub was purchased. (“I’ve always had fantasies about opening a pub in the countryside,” Margot has previously admitted.) With a faultless food offering in place, there was also the building itself to consider, a 17th-century coaching inn with space in the eaves for five rooms.

Max turned to local interior designer Frances Penn (daughter of designer David Mlinaric) with a simple brief. “For the ground floor we wanted to allow the beauty and rustic feel of the 17th-century coaching inn to guide us,” explains Frances. “This allowed us to create a very clean vision using a simple and organic palette of colors, textures, and finishes to enhance and complement the building.”

After one too many local ciders, diners have the opportunity to stay in one of five spacious bedrooms in the eaves. “We talked a lot about how the rooms will make you feel when you come and stay,” says Frances. “We wanted to create a really fabulous and luxurious set of bedrooms with great comfort, softness, and serenity. We also wanted to include high-quality antiques and beautiful fabrics and, where possible, collaborate with local artisans and other talented makers.”

The rooms are softer, with more color, pattern, and texture than the rusticated bar and dining area. “I used soft, colorful tones to enhance these spacious and comfortable bedrooms,” says Frances. “The soft furnishings are all bespoke and handmade by Emma Stewart and her team. Her detail and expertise is second to none.” Reclaimed wooden oak floors from The Reclaimed Flooring Company feature throughout this floor. 

For more, head to The Three Horseshoes.

And for more rustic taverns, inns, and public houses, see:

• Simple Good Things: 13 Ideas to Steal from a Shaker-Inspired Farm & Fermentory in the Catskills
• The Ferry Boat Inn: 15 Ideas to Steal from a Seaside Pub in Cornwall
• Manka’s Inverness Lodge: A 1900s Lodge Reborn in Northern California