This is the stunning vista from the garden of one of Pensford's three pubs a mere 20-minute drive south of Bristol. Fewer than a thousand people call it home but the village has become a hotspot for tourists in recent years.
Pensford may be small but a post-Covid renaissance has meant its rich history coupled with the beautiful surroundings pulls visitors in like moths to a flame. Some 20 minutes up the A37 or a trip on the 376 bus service you'll find much of the medieval street layout left intact.
It is home to a number of protected buildings with Grade-II accreditation - including the 14th century St Thomas à Becket Church and the octagonal lock-up building - many of which scarcely withstood damage from the Great Floods of 1968.
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Heavy rainfall brought major flooding on July 10 of that year with serious damage to towns and villages along the River Chew. The flood swept away the bridge over the A37 and damaged the Pensford Viaduct so much that it never reopened as a railway line.
Still standing, the viaduct has a dominant presence over the village still. It overlooks one of the pub's beer gardens, creating arguably one of the best views in the region to enjoy while nursing a pint al fresco. Last year we took a stroll around and this is what we found:
One of the best beer gardens in the country
Nestled at the foot of the viaduct is gastropub The Rising Sun, an award-winning venue where people travel far and wide to enjoy one of the best beer gardens in the country. And that is not just my two pence - the unbelievably kind team at the Rising Sun has already reached national acclaim earning multiple accolades in 2020 and 2021 since Lisa Faulkner and Rebecca Fricker became landladies just before the pandemic hit.
"We took the pub over just before lockdown, so probably not the best time to take it over in hindsight," Lisa told me last spring. "Every hurdle we just tried to think outside the box because we've got such an amazing outdoor space." A modest admission having paid it a visit myself. Equipped with plenty of tables and seating, guests can sit back and relax on a hot day and bask in the tranquil setting.
The garden area meant the pub was able to thrive when Covid limited hospitality venues to outdoor service, with enough space to seat groups comfortably while being socially distanced. Today, the space is still very popular for weddings, baby showers and private dining with a converted barn space area that hosts about 30 people.
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"Most of our market is literally from the other side of Bristol and outside Bristol, so we're more of like a tourist destination," Lisa explained. Since lockdown, she said several Airbnbs have opened in the area meaning the pub is often frequented by walkers, cyclists and holidaymakers exploring the village.
The pub is now owned by St Austell's Brewery so most of the ales served there are Cornish, with a number of different types of Somerset's own, Thatchers, on draught. Lisa said: "The ethos is still the same as before. We're still a fresh brewpub so all of our produce is sourced locally. Some of our produce is literally grown by a local gardener, Andy, as well."
Their food menu certainly captured my attention. The kitchen, fronted by co-landlady Becca who started off in the pub's kitchen as a pot washer 10 years ago, serves up an impressive selection of classics including luxurious burgers and Sunday roasts alongside a brilliant sandwich and soup deal. The pie of the day - which was more than a generous portion - was £15.
A shop with a rich history
Lisa politely urged me to visit The Miners coffee house a mere ten seconds' walk away, with a name nodding to the village's past. The area surrounding Pensford was used for surface coal extraction for centuries, forming a major part of the Somerset coalfield between 1909 and 1955. After being a popular spot for miners, the building then went from dance hall to snooker room and was finally opened as a coffee shop.
The building reopened in May 2021 after it had stood empty for three years, with customers visiting from as far as Cornwall. While ramblers and visitors are greeted in Pensford with open arms, the coffee shop was a popular spot for the community to gather with the local church and groups for new mothers meeting on a weekly basis.
The coffee shop announced closure last August (2022), saying its agreement had come to an end and thanking customers for their support. "The time has come, onwards and upwards", the team wrote on social media, in response to one of the many comments expressing sadness at its departure.
"We would like to thank each and everyone of you for your support, it’s been a blast and we will never forget the all the amazing memories," they added.
All the people I met on my visit were incredibly friendly and happy to discuss their love of their home. While being a close-knit community they are so welcoming to visitors.
How to get there
To save driving and parking in the village, there are two bus routes serving Pensford from Bristol, the 172 and the 376. The latest from First Bus, which is changing its timetables from tomorrow (April 2), states: "Service 172 Bristol – Midsomer Norton – Bath – as a result of funding provided following the successful award to the West of England Combined Authority and North Somerset Council Bus Service Improvement Plan, a revised Service 172 will operate.
"This service will now extend to Bristol replacing Service 379. The 172 will operate half-hourly during the day serving Bristol, Wells Road, Whitchurch, Pensford, White Cross, Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Peasdown St. John and Bath. Alongside the 376, this will provide a combined 15-minute frequency along the A39 from Bristol through Whitchurch to White Cross on Monday-Saturday."
