08/05/2026
Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt - now😍 Sunday saw me enjoy my own company and pick up the clutch of pubs in South Somerset, in and around Crewkerne and South Petherton. It was a gloriously sunny day and being on my own was part self-care, part-Clavel admin day. I went to plenty of pubs, including the Muddled Man, which has just featured on The Telegraph’s list of top 500 UK pubs. I took in some stunning views over Ham Hill, I spoke to several welcoming landlords, bar staff and locals, and I did some research for my next pub quiz (19th August, btw). I was able to enjoy live music at two of the pubs, including the Prince of Wales at Stoke-sub-Hamdon, where they did a zero-alcohol Proper Job on draught that was massively impressive. If you have not been, I recommend it highly - for the pub itself, the nearby lay-by with those views, and the Iron Age hill fort and stone circle (which I did not get to see on this occasion). Then, on Tuesday, my mate Steve kindly was the designated driver as we made our way up to Exmoor, covering over 100 miles in total. We passed nearby to the Tarr Steps and took in the amazing views across the English Channel towards Wales as we descended Dunkery Hill down towards Porlock. Whilst there, we visited the Ship Inn, another of the pubs to make the top-500 list, a cracking pub with good beer and quirky features. All in all, I have had a brilliant couple of days out, and I would call on you to get out and explore some of these gems for yourself. Of course, we look forward to you coming up to the Holman Clavel, as we are taking part in the pub trail this year, so you will be able to collect a sticker from us, as well as enjoy some good beer and food. Most importantly, I have now collected 26 stickers, which qualifies me for the t-shirt to mark this achievement. Now, I can’t wait to visit the rest😍😀☀️Somerset CAMRA