Step back in time and experience a part of England’s heritage

The George InnN o r t o n S t P h i l i p

History of The George Inn, Norton St PhilipFor over 700 years The George Inn has welcomed many people over its doorstep to enjoy its hospitality. The George Inn is reputed to be the oldest continually licensed inn in Britain, with early documents dating back to 1397.

The building you see today was built to accommodate all travellers and merchants arriving for the annual wool fairs that were held here in the village in the 13th century and continued until 1902.

The George Inn was first mentioned by its name in a document dated 1595; there is evidence to indicate that it had already been known for many years before. In 1606, a survey described the building as “an ancient and common Inn where lynnen cloth is souled at fare times”. It was only by the latter part of the 17th century that The George Inn provided 35 beds and stabling for 90 horses.

It was during the 17th century that many famous visitors drank, ate and slept here, including Samuel Pepys and The Duke of Monmouth. The Duke himself, an illegitimate son of King Charles II, headed a rebellion against King James II and used The George Inn as his headquarters after his retreat from Bath on the 26th June 1685. During the Battle of Sedgemoor, on the 6th July, the rebel army was defeated and retribution followed

throughout the West Country. It was in Norton St Philip that 12 men were hung at the crossroads outside the front of the building. They were put to death by the infamous Hanging Judge Jeffries who is said to have held court here.

Sadly, in the 18th century the prosperity of Norton St Philip declined but the tourist route to Bath ensured that The George Inn continued to trade. By the 19th century, The George Inn was very well known as an historic inn and is featured in many watercolours, engravings and photographs.

The George Inn has also been used in many films and period dramas, “The Remains of the Day”, “Tom Jones” and “The Canterbury Tales,” also on the television serialisation of “Persuasion” by Jane Austen and Daniel Defoe’s “Moll Flanders”.

By the late 1990s, large parts of the building were in need of extensive repair and restoration. Mr Charles Bartholomew, the Chairman of the family-run brewery, Wadworth & Co Ltd, took upon the enormous task of restoring this beautiful inn and work began on the Grade 1 listed structure.

The management team and staff continue to this day in the tradition of providing customers with a comfortable stay and pleasant visit.

SomersetSomerset is enriched with beautiful countryside; over 40 miles of coastline and a rich mix of heritage, history and legend abound. Why not sample a cream tea, some Cheddar cheese or a drink of cider to further your experience of the region? It is the perfect destination for a relaxing break, anytime of the year.

Somerset is blessed with an exceptional range of places to visit. You’ll need more than a few days to do it justice, like Stourhead’s magnificent gardens, historic houses such as Longleat Estate and masterly cathedral and churches. Britain’s biggest gorge with illuminated caves in Cheddar are found in this region, along with Glastonbury Abbey, once one of the largest and richest abbeys in Britain and legendary burial place of King Arthur. Of course, not forgetting to mention the famous Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, the best preserved Roman religious spa from the ancient world just a stones throw away in Bath.

Scenic view of the church and beautiful rolling countryside

Places to visit• Bath Rugby Club

• Bradford on Avon

• Bristol, Cabot Circle opened in 2008 - fantastic shopping!

• Bristol, The SS Great Britain, Brunel’s restored steam ship

• Bristol Zoo with a new Butterfly Forest and Twilight World

• Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole - 300 million years in the making

• Longleat Safari Park and Stately Home

• Numerous galleries and museums

• The Roman City of Bath, Bath Spa and Roman Baths

• The Royal Crescent, Circle and Pulteney Bridge

• Wadworth Brewery and Visitors’ Centre in Devizes

• Warminster, Longleat Safari Park

There are many more fantastic places of interest nearby.

View of Pulteney Weir in Bath, with Pulteney Bridge in the distance

WeddingsThe George Inn, reputed to be the oldest continuously licensed pub in Britian for over 700 years!

Wadworth & Co. Ltd have proudly restored this beautiful building with care and consideration resulting in the perfect location to hold your wedding or special occasion.

We can comfortably seat up to 65 people for a traditional sit down wedding breakfast and accommodate up to 100 people for a buffet style event.

Working with you, we will take the time

you need to provide you with a menu to

suit your style and wishes, ensuring that all

details are taken care of to guarantee that

your day will be special and uniquely yours.

We have a licence to hold weddings and

civil ceremonies here at The George Inn.

Overlooking the beautiful rural scene of the rolling Somerset countryside, the garden at the rear of The George Inn is the ideal backdrop for your photographs commemorating your special day.

“Making the day special and uniquely yours”

The Dungeon at The George InnLocated within the Grade 1 listed George Inn ‘The Dungeon’ is the ideal setting for your special event.

The Dungeon can cater for up to 25 people, intimate yet spacious and relaxed, with rich decor and exposed brickwork, the room echos the atmosphere of a bygone medieval era. The Dungeon boasts a separate entrance to ensure ease of access for your guests and increased privacy.

Ideal for any small bespoke event The Dungeon has played host to parties and celebrations, conferences and meetings, which makes this venue, so rich in history, highly popular for hire for any private occasion.

Talk to us today and find out how our experienced team will take care of all the details, to help you to plan your unique event, turning your ideas into reality.

“Relax, enjoy and let us

take care of everything else”

RoomsIndulge yourself in the historic village atmosphere of Norton St Philip, just minutes from central Bath in the rolling Somerset countryside.

Relax and unwind in one of our four poster, double or twin bedded rooms and enjoy our renowned breakfasts, made with fresh local produce, served in our 16th century beamed dining room. With the added benefit of

free parking, there is easy access to Bath and surrounding areas and a wealth of beautiful countryside on your doorstep!

A full-cooked breakfast is included in your room tariff and for early departures, we can provide a continental breakfast basket on request. Breakfast is usually served in the dining room. We offer a full traditional English breakfast or a lighter breakfast, if preferred.

We are happy to accept well-behaved dogs with their owners for overnight stays at an extra cost of £10 per night and you are more than welcome to bring them to the bar. Please advise us on booking.

DiningA range of traditional and modern dishes are available throughout the day, served in our bar and dining areas, and we actively source as much produce locally as possible, proudly bringing the highest quality to your table. We are happy to cater for any special dietary or allergy requests — please let us know when reserving your table.

Bar and restaurant menus are available from 11.30am until 9.00pm Monday to Thursday and on Friday and Saturday from 11.30am until 9.30pm. Our restaurant menu, which includes a traditional British roast is available each Sunday from midday until 9.00pm.

‘Monmouth’

‘Samuel Pepys’

‘Abbots Room’

‘Carthusian’

‘Sedgemoor’

‘King Charles’

The George Inn has seven individually appointed rooms, which perfectly reflect the history of the Inn while providing all the needs of the modern world. Three of the rooms are grand four poster rooms complete with wooden floorboards and period features, while three are carpeted doubles and the remaining is a twin. Well-behaved pets are welcome at The George Inn.

All our bedrooms are comfortably finished with:

• Freeview colour TV• Coffee and tea making facilities• Hair dryer• Iron and ironing board• En-suite bathroom facilities All our bedrooms are non smoking and Coombes, Carthusian

and Abbots Room also boast a balcony or terrace with views.

Opening Times

At the barMonday to Saturday: 11.30am - 11.00pmSunday: Midday - 10.30pm

Food Monday to Thursday: 11.30am - 9.00pmFriday and Saturday: 11.30am - 9.30pmSunday: Midday - 9.00pm

The George Inn

Norton St Philip, Bath Somerset BA2 7LH

Tel: 01373 834224

email: georgeinn@wadworth.co.ukweb: www.georgeinnnsp.co.uk

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