City Arms, Wellsback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sunday evening in Wells and the City Arms was my second port of call after the Full Moon (not listed on the site). It has a fair amount of historical interest, given it was once the city jail. You can still see bars on some of the windows. The interior was fairly compact, with a small courtyard also part of the complex. Ales were Glastonbury Hedge Monkey, St Austell Tribute, Timothy Taylor Landlord & Dartmoor Jail Ale. Ciders were Weston's Raspberry Roller & Harry's Haymaker. Welcoming pub.
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A really nice pub to go for a quiet drink and a good meal.
The staff are very friendly and it's an ideal place to relax.
It's not the place to go if you want a thriving party atmosphere, however I highly recommend it for a place to go for a nice lunch if you're visiting Wells.
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In here last Saturday lunch time and quite busy.
Two Ladies serving quite well but defiantly more of a food place than a boozer.
They have 8 hand pumps but 3 were not being used.
2 were for Cider and 3 for Ale. I had a pint of something from the Goffs Brewery for £3.50 which was ok.
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Having been to this pub before (being fairly local) we were not sure about returning as the last experience was not good. On this visit, the taking of a food order at the table has ceased and you now order at the bar. There was one, slow, member of staff behind the bar and a non English speaking person attending tables. In pigeon English he asked us to move from our table for four to another, identical, table for four and moved some other diners from a table with higher 'pew' type seats to the table had just vacated rather than to the nearer table we had been ushered to! Food was ordered at the bar and took a while to arrive. I re-attended the bar to order further drinks while we waited for the food to arrive and stood there for fifteen minutes whilst the slow bar person went about serving others. There were only three beers on hand pumps all from Cottage Brewing. I tried two but, although the Gold Rush was palatable, it was not as good as beers available from the more local Cheddar Ales Brewery (all of which are great!) Fearing my food would be cold by the time I was served, I returned to my most recent table empty handed, and my food had just arrived. Both my wife and I had really great meals that were plentiful in quantity and flavour. Having eaten, I returned to the bar for the drinks I had abortively tried to obtain earlier and was served relatively quickly. It would have been good to have had a drink to compliment the food rather than to just wash it down. I would return for a meal again but would not go on a Saturday in "high season" if the two staff can't cope with the volume of customers, I'll probably stick to week days!
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We got a very friendly welcome in this pub, not at all like previous comments. We ended up staying for two nights (the pub also does accommodation). They have four very luxurious rooms, each with their own personal theme. They offered us one of the most beautiful rooms for the price of the smaller room.
Beer choice was limited, but varied during our stay, and was of excellent quality, as was the cider.
The food was outstanding and of a very high quality.
They were indeed sometimes short staffed and sometimes you had to wait at the bar, but we were always served very politely and friendly.
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As context - I dropped in here for a pint whilst waiting for a takeaway (I've lived in Wells for 6 or so years & its been on a downward trajectory for the last several years at least).
I was the only customer in the place (about 8ish PM on a Thursday evening) - the barmaid/manager was behind the bar as I walked up, looked at me (in the eye), then ignored me for 5 minutes whilst she fumbled around with glasses, still pointedly ignoring me (yet within 10ft).
I left & went to the Kings Head.
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Ghastly.
If you like rude, incompetent, dismissive service, it's your place.
I pity the international tourists its aimed at. Gutting that this would be paraded as an example of what a 'British Pub' is.
Truly awful.
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Just give this Pub a miss.
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First pub visited on our boozy bus trip around Somerset, basically because it opened at 1000 and serves breakfasts. No problems with the breakfasts, did have to return the Golden Chalice as it was very cloudy, however it was changed without quibble. Not the best pub in Wells, but didnt experience any of what has been written about this pub. Suspect its someone who has been barred...
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Oh dear....
Who on gods earth trained the owner in customer service, because if her attitude is a reflection of the catering industry in general then no wonder pubs are shutting by the day.
Lets not beat about the bush, she's downright rude, downright offensive and downright ignorant.
I have NEVER in my entire life seen staff spoken to the way she speaks to her staff, be it bar staff, waiting staff, chefs whoever. She thinks its acceptable to bawl them out in front of customers.
Just who the hell does she think she is talking to her staff like that. Sure she pays the wages, but thats no reason or excuse to sit and insult and bully her staff the way she does.
Given her awful personality ( as shown by her actions with other customers ) then you would think she would value the staff, but oh no. The exchange with a customer highlighted on here is absolutely nothing compared to her little temper fits with the staff. According to a barmaid its quite common, and in fact one member of staff walked out recently when a plate was thrown at her head by this egotistical lunatic of a manager.
Lets not beat around the bush. There are better pubs in the area, and given the awful experience we had the other week when a member of staff was spoken to like she was the proverbial doggy doo doo on the sole of her shoe, we'll be taking our trade elsewhere, and recommending to everyone else to do the same.
No doubt she won't care because she's either too thick skinned ( or in my humble opinion just simply too thick ) to realise that actually by trying to belittle your staff you actually make yourself look very very stupid.
Avoid this pub because honestly, the woman running it is just the most obnoxious, rude and unpleasant person I've ever seen in charge of a licensed premises, and theres alot of competition out there but she's certainly got that title all to herself..
Vile woman.
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Oh dear....
Who on gods earth trained the owner in customer service, because if her attitude is a reflection of the catering industry in general then no wonder pubs are shutting by the day.
Lets not beat about the bush, she's downright rude, downright offensive and downright ignorant.
I have NEVER in my entire life seen staff spoken to the way she speaks to her staff, be it bar staff, waiting staff, chefs whoever. She thinks its acceptable to bawl them out in front of customers.
Just who the hell does she think she is talking to her staff like that. Sure she pays the wages, but thats no reason or excuse to sit and insult and bully her staff the way she does.
Given her awful personality ( as shown by her actions with other customers ) then you would think she would value the staff, but oh no. The exchange with a customer highlighted on here is absolutely nothing compared to her little temper fits with the staff. According to a barmaid its quite common, and in fact one member of staff walked out recently when a plate was thrown at her head by this egotistical lunatic of a manager.
Lets not beat around the bush. There are better pubs in the area, and given the awful experience we had the other week when a member of staff was spoken to like she was the proverbial doggy doo doo on the sole of her shoe, we'll be taking our trade elsewhere, and recommending to everyone else to do the same.
No doubt she won't care because she's either too thick skinned ( or in my humble opinion just simply too thick ) to realise that actually by trying to belittle your staff you actually make yourself look very very stupid.
Avoid this pub because honestly, the woman running it is just the most obnoxious, rude and unpleasant person I've ever seen in charge of a licensed premises, and theres alot of competition out there but she's certainly got that title all to herself..
Vile woman.
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The other day I came across the �beer in the evening� website and was astonished to see that you had taken the time to respond to my comments. My thoughts were �me thinks you doth protest too much� You really did not have to defend your actions you were doing what you had been trained to do. You have a lot of support and affection from your customers and staff and this is to be applauded, as indeed it was. You came out as �Top Dog� that day so you could have just rested on your laurels and not bothered to reply.
However, I do feel I need to give you some advice - you really must stop listening in on your customers private conversations, to say you can do that because it is your pub comes across as discourteous and immature.
In addition, it can be perceived as very patronising and over familiar to address ones customers as �my love�. But I�m sure you were told that in all that training you received.
Please don�t bother to reply just be satisfied that you won the day and your patrons adore you.
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Please, please, City Arms - no not have every table decked out for dining, it's a pub first, surely? Most of our drinking is done morning/afternoon, all Real Ales very well kept, and a splendid choice of usually 5 or 6, but please leave a few tables by the bar area free of knives,forks,napkins, menus,etc, like it used to be. If people sitting at a table drinking indicate they wish to eat, then deck the table out.
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Went in for a quick pint at lunch time with the other half and two kids. I had a pint of Penny's pride kids had a coke each and wife Ashtons press cider. A decent pint as was the cider. But a tad expensive at �11.odd think it was and 33p
looked a nice relaxing pub with several ales on offer. If i visit Wells again i would call back in but not for to many due to the prices
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I've known this pub for a few years and it's one of the best in Wells. Loved the exchange between the landlady and the couple who seemed so far up themselves. Definitely on landlady's side.
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Lunchtime visit. We had good value, tasty food from the blackboard menu plus a cuople of well kept pint(s) of Glastonbury Ales Ley Lines. Good selection of beers from west country breweries plus 3 ciders on offer. Friendly staff. Nice pub, will call again.
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First class pub, great selection of beers and atmosphere, good food too.
Penny runs a great shop - should be visited whenever possible!
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THANK YOU ELIZAPEARL FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT
Before I comment on elizapearl's story, I would like to thank all the customers, that were present during your embarrassing rant for their support, I have never known people to physically applause when a couple left a bar.
Now THE FACTS: I came to your table and asked if everything was Ok, you had obviously had a domestic situation and through your anger (pointing your finger) at a rather embarrassed young couple opposite, demanded to know why they had their food before you as you had ordered first, I asked you what you had ordered and you said the Home-made pie and Salmon from our specials board, I immediately realised why you food was taking slightly longer, I told you the Salmon is cooked fresh to order, you then said (HANDS WAVING AT YOUR HUSBAND) I can cook my husband salmon in 6 mins! its going to be over cooked and dry!!! Sorry what normal person would comment on a dish before it is even placed in front of them, sorry I found your comment insulting to my Chefs whom work long , hard hours to produce quality dishes for our customers to enjoy! No you could not accept this, so you decide to totally embarrass yourselves in front of everyone with your ranting,the food was brought to your table, (you still ranting at your husband and the world) I asked you to try and enjoy your dish and comment after, you demand a refund, I told you this was not possible as you had ordered the food and it was ready for you to enjoy, you then said to your Husband get the Police!!! for what reason I really can not understand, at this point I had to tell you to "grow up"!!! you took your food outside, one of my staff even brought your husbands drink out for him, he said he could not drink it as he did not know how many people had contaminated it, SURPRISE!! SURPRISE!! when you left (the applause broke out amongst our customers) we cleared your table and you had consumed every morsel, all that was left on one plate was 2 small new potatoes and your husbands glass was empty!! I agree with one of your comments the food was cold, that was because you carried on so long making a complete fool of yourself and embarassing and ruining everyone�s Sunday Lunch! I do have to thank you for a couple of things, firstly the pure entertainment for me, my staff and customers, you are a great double act, you deserve a grammy!!! and secondly a couple that watched your embarassing act said that this was their first time in the City Arms, the best Sunday Roast ever & entertainment, they said they would be back!!! I have been in the hospitality trade for some 30 years and was very fortunate to have worked in a management role for large corporate Hotel Groups throughout the country where customer care skills and other training was paramount to achieving our goals, but we were never trained in how to deal with the "customers from hell" whom just seemed "hell bent" on ruining everyone else lunch.
We serve over 1,300-1,600 dishes per week and rarely have any complaints, our customer base is mainly repeat business and we have lovely, loyal customers that are a pleasure to serve, but sorry, you and your husband fall so far out of this category, WARNING to any establishment that you walk into, be polite (sorry this does not always work) but show them the door , do not point a imaginary finger at them (even though she will) but say we are not that desperate for your money or your embarassing company. THIS IS OUR REPLY TO LETTER BELOW FROM BABER
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I would like to tip off everyone visiting this establishment about our visit today. We have been coming to the City Arms since the 1970s and have always found it to be a very warm and hospitable place with good food. Whilst visiting Wells today after some considerable time, we decided to have lunch there. We waited patiently for our meals for half an hour and when the table next to us received their food as they had actually come in 10 minutes after us we asked the barmaid how long our meal would be as they had put their orders in after us. She snapped at us WHO? We told her which table and as we didn�t want to bring the people in on it we apologised to them.
She shouted at us and pointed her finger in my wife�s face that cooking salmon takes a very long time. My wife said that she cooked salmon fillet in about ten minutes. The barmaid then said that they didn�t cook salmon in butter. She then picked up my half drunk pear cider and stormed off saying that you can have your money back. We both felt that this was a very rude way to treat paying customers and decided that under the circumstances as we had not said anything offensive. We really could not stay and felt that it was best that we took the refund and left. However, she then reappeared with two plates of COLD food. we told her that we couldn�t stay and she shouted at us well you�re not getting any money back from me cos you have got your food.
We asked to speak to management, she said she was the owner and she could do what she liked, which we found quite disturbing. We said that we didn�t feel like eating as we were too upset. She told us to �GET OUT OF MY PUB�!!! been watching too much Eastenders I fear. We had to take the meals outside and eat in the yard. By now it was quite cold outside.
We ate the food because we were actually hungry and had paid for it. Halfway through our meal a gentleman appeared with my half drunken cider and the glass was slammed on the table. I decided not to drink it as by that time so many people had actually handled the glass it was possibly contaminated.
The food was as I suspected it would be - disgusting and cold. The salmon had been cooked in butter and the �hollandaise� sauce was indeed butter sauce. It was all quite tasteless. She told me earlier that If I didn�t enjoy my meal she would refund the money. However, we were far too upset to go back into the pub to tell her about the food for fear of her showing us up again with her vitriolic shouting.
This is taken from her website - Our ethos is one of values, quality, good service and customer awareness. What a joke. She needs to go back to customers services training that is if she ever had any - I think not
baber - 19 Sep 2010 18:43 |
quite a wonderful inside,very clean and a few people in mid afternoon only had 15 mins before bus to bristol, wish i could have stayed longer.would go again if in the area
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Large, U shaped pub conveniently located just off the High Street. The courtyard at the front seems a bit claustrophobic, I think they may have done some work there a few years ago which is a shame as the building has lost some of it's character. Once you're inside it's fine though, with several distinct areas.
There was a very good choice of ales on tap, about six or seven in total, inc. Doom Bar, Sharp's Red Ale, Butcombe, Wickwar IKB and Cheddar's Gorge Best. Also a good line-up of ciders, namely Blackthorn, Ashton Press, Suffolk Dry and Addlestones.
Looks to be a decent food offering, although we didn't try it on this occasion.
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Visited a couple of years ago and again recently. Good range of beer, good basic food at fair prices, friendly atmosphere. The only thing is, to my mind it isn't really a "proper" pub, more a sort of bistro that does good beer. However it is definitely worth a visit if you're in Wells.
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Visted wells recently was drawn into this pub by the pretty arrangement of flowers.what a lovely pub really friendly atmoshere great food good choice of real ales very well kept.staff very friendly and very helpful,food was very good and very well priced.well worth a visit if you go to wells . would agree with awkward42 the best pub in wells .wish we had a pub like this.
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Wells is my favourite gem in England (Smallest city).Steeped in history..Wells Cathedral (1175-1490), Bishops Palace, Vicars Close, Hot Fuzz film location, Birthplace of Mary Bignal Rand (First British female gold medal winner(Tokyo-1964) and Harry Patch (Last World War 1 veteran-just passed away last week).And don't forget to check out Jack Blandifers (1392) !!!!.
When you have done all of the above, a special treat lies in wait for you. Head for the City Arms (Was formerly the City Jail and later an abattoir) where you will find a selection of some of the finest ales anywhere. The food ain't half-bad either. I modestly consider myself a connoisseur of ales and the City Arms has never let me down yet. Best not to drive however. The bus only costs �5.60 for an adult to Bristol or you can always check into the local Swan Hotel if needs must!!. My favourite pub in my favourite English city. 10 out of 10!!!.
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This pub has just about everything going for it -
* a nice atmosphere
* a building with a lot of history and character.
* very nice food in decent portion sizes
* decent ales
* decent prices
Quite possibly the best pub in the city of Wells.
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I was lured in by the "numerous ciders" sign outside but disappointed to find that it this is true that they have several, they are all chemofizz : why no local real cider?
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We visited this pub in late Novenber. Having taked it out of the Good Beer Guide a couple of years ago due to the rapidly falling quality of the real ales, we were very pleased to note that the beers this time were in very good form. Let's hope the improvement carries on.
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The most unpleasant pub I've been in for many years. The bar and restaurant were drastically understaffed and the barman sullen beyond belief. Our food took well over half an hour to arrive, and when it did was lukewarm and overcooked. I complained to a woman who it turned out was the manageress or landlady - and she pointed out I could always leave. We did, but as we walked out I heard her say to a chap propping up the bar that "people like that can p*** off". People like customers, then? They will do just that, in droves.
At a very nice pub nearby I recounted this to the landlord, without naming the pub. He immediately replied "Ah that will be her round at the City Arms, will it?"
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Where to start? Good points. Well kept beer including local Cheddar Brewery Potholer. Reasonable food, but not all its cracked up to be or so I thought. Bad points> Refurnb has given the appearance of a wine bar rather than a Pub and has taken away much of the character that used to thrive in this Pub. A shame but still worth a visit for the Ale
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A very nice pub with excellent real ales. I ate and drank in this pub and of all things that could have gone wrong, nothing went wrong at all. Beer excellent, food fantastic, pub it's self is nice, people good and staff very friendly and efficient. 9/10.
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My wife, 2 young boys and I went here last Sunday, looking for some breakfast. There was nowhere in Wells that had a spare table, and the ones that were available, did not serve until 10 a.m. We were starving by 0930 so went for a wonder to see the locations for the film 'Hot Fuzz'.
We wondered back to the City Arms, and were made to feel very welcome. We ordered two full English breakfasts for my wife and I, and sausage and egg and a bacon sandwich for the boys. 4 juices and 2 coffees also, and 4 shortbread biscuits, and the whole lot came to �24.60! Brilliant value for money.
The food was out of this world, and is easily the best pub/restaurant breakfast I have ever had. It was absolutely superb!
2 rashers of bacon, local sausage, which was to die for, 2 eggs, perfectly cooked, hash brown, beans tomatoes, mushrooms, and toast.
I would drive back there, from Surrey, to have it all over again. Nice atmosphere too, very friendly staff, and if it's OK for Johnny Depp, (who has recently eaten there), then it's OK for us!
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this is an odd place.......doesn't seem to know what it wants to be.
ale pretty good, but variable from time to time.
service definitely variable too...not a warm welcome certainly. i guess they're too busy with all the tourists.
but that said its probably the best in Wells....which doesn't say much for the rest.
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Decent pub with better than average food, good selection of real ales though I did have a slight problem once convincing the landlord to pop some of his bottled beers into the fridge! Recommended.
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not family friendly. felt ousted with a well behaved child. but would have to agree with others that there is charm and good range of ales. food was good, if a little overpriced.
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This is a fantastic pub, full of charm, excellent food and a free house too. The staff were helpful and I could not fault it in any way. I would thoroughly recommend a visit when going to Wells.
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Pretty dire. Most of the pub seems to be decked out as some sort of cafe; the 'bar' area was full of a rather unwelcoming collection of blokes trying, apparently, to demonstrate how 'hard' they were. It could be a nice pub; just a pity it isn't.
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loads of real ale, a must 4 a visit 2 Wells. Had a lovely pint of Festive Feasant from Badger Brewery on carnival night. 8/10
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The City Arms is apparently Wells' old jail house, converted into a pub. It has an open, old cobbled courtyard, with tables & benches, and you can see old shackles, etc, displayed on outside walls.
Inside, there are two bars serving the 3 sides around the courtyard. I visit this 'watering hole' a couple of times every summer, when staying in Wells. I have been fortunate, all the guests I've seen behaved themselves. But if brawling becomes a regular feature here, the management should seriously consider re-utilising the stocks & shackles that served the town so well in bygone eras!! TJ
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This used to be a great pub, Sadly since the refit (which removed all the character the place had) last year it has really gone down hill. The regs have been replaced with the Ben Sherman Brigade tanking up before heading to Kudos.
Seriously one to avoid Fri/Sat.
anonymous - 26 Jul 2006 15:48 |
We stayed in wells for week in may,visited the city arms on a friday evening me and my wife both had a good meal but on leaving the restaurant a fight between two young lads started in the court yard and no attempt by bar staff was made to stop the fight.
Me and my 66year old wife found it very scary and would not choose to dine their again
anonymous - 25 Jun 2006 17:41 |
I finally went to the City Arms at the height of lunchtime on a Saturday. Not the best time choice, but the service was fine the ales good, and the food great. The place was full of single types & 2-tops, and I asked to share a table for 6 with a couple, and we asked two ladies to share with us 4, and lunch lasted far longer than we expected. Us 2 Yanks, 2 folks from Dorchester, and 2 locals. Strangers at the start, we had a great lunch & conversation. Hopefully this is what the City Arms is usually like
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we visited this public house today,we first whent into the resturant where we could not find any staff to serve us for lunch then we tryied the bar and found the local patrons and staff to be very rude indead would not consider to dine or drink there again
anonymous - 30 Oct 2005 16:29 |
We were fortunate to find this pub while staying in Wells - excellent food and drink, as well as staff and patrons - highly recommended.
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Our local - we love it.
anonymous - 3 Dec 2004 14:19 |
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