Charlton House Hotel, Charlton, Shepton Mallet

A very pleasant and rather grand hotel set in its own grounds just outside the town. There are a couple of car parks, well away from the house itself, one of them with electric car charging points. The grounds ramble, and it feels more like a country house than a business. There is a conservatory at the back, the bar looked very comfortable but we couldn’t go in it due to COVID so sat on the terrace behind, with a view of neatly cut lawns. Food wasn’t as expensive as we had expected, and portions were generous and well cooked. The staff were fairly helpful though they took some persuading to let us pay in cash. It was above average in price, which is to be expected in this sort of place, but the addition of a ‘discretionary’ service charge to the bill wasn’t welcomed. There was no ale on draft, just bottles, though the selection was fair. A nice place to take an aged relative for lunch but not really a pub.