CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

SOMERSET - Witham Friary, Seymour Arms

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

Witham Friary, Witham Friary, BA11 5HF

Tel: 01749 850742

Draught Beer & Cider: Real ale and cider

Listed Status: Grade II

View this pub on a local map

Purpose-built along with farm buildings in 1866 or 1867 for the Duke of Somerset's estate, it shows how rural pubs were combined with other functions (the farm was sold off in 1980). A dignified exterior with a splendid wrought-iron inn sign on one of the corners and a surprisingly spacious interior of two rooms and a central corridor. It has been in the same family ownership since 1943 and the only change has been the adding of inside toilets in 1981 on the rear left. The flagstone central corridor leads up to a glazed-in servery. It has three sections with the left and middle sections having the bottom sections open for serving through. This is a popular area for customers to stand. Behind the screen there are old cupboards, shelving and an old set of now disused handpumps with porcelain handles set againgst the left wall. There is no proper till - notes are placed in various cupboards and coins go into small dishes.

On the left is the main public bar with a '2' on the door. and also a flagstone floor. It has simple bench and window seating attached to old dado panelling all painted turquoise, a 1930s brick painted red and wood surround fireplace and service via a small hatch to the cellar complete with sliding glazed door. The cellar has a '5' on the door from the servery and has an old stillage at the rear which now contains polycasks of cider, originally it was for wooden casks of cider - cask beer is served using a handpump attached to shelving in the cellar. Rich's Cider is sold at a remarkably low price and as a result the pub sells three times the amount of cider than real ale. To the right is the Commercial Room with an early 20th century green tiled, cast and wood surround fireplace, shutters on the windows, a bar billiards table, a couple of tables and metal framed, leatherette padded chairs. Note the two old devices to ring service bells which were disabled in 2007 - if you look behind the servery you can see the old service bell box on the staircase.