Every village needs a pub at its heart and the villagers of Sutton Benger near Chippenham in Wiltshire are lucky enough to have a thriving, stylish local beating at the centre of theirs. Owned by Mark and Mark, the couple who also run the ever-popular Langley Tap just down the road in Langley Burrell, The Wellesley Arms has the same hospitable welcome, high quality menu and informal but professional service, but a much grander, gothic style inside. Read our review here.

Whereas The Langley Tap is cosily kitted out with plenty of green and gold finishes, light wooden furniture and coloured glass candle holders, The Wellesley is much more traditionally opulent, with authentic dark wood tables and chairs, dark charcoal grey walls, ornate wallpapers, stags head wallhangings, porthole mirrors and large open fires. It’s just crying out for long winter evenings telling ghost stories over a bottle of Malbec or five.

There are three entertaining areas inside. As soon as you walk in you enter the the traditional, low-lit bar area in the centre of the pub, with oak parquet flooring, original mullion windows and a central, original open fireplace in the centre of the room. Tucked around the corner is The Snug dining room, with an impressive open fireplace;  leading off the main bar is the lower dining room which is bigger, brighter and again has a fireplace and a wood burner.

With so many places for real fires, The Wellesley Arms really lends itself to Autumn-Winter feasting and drinking –  pop in after a long dog walk (canine friends very welcome) or spend the evening chatting with locals by candlelight or taking someone special on an intimate date night. There’s a mouthwatering menu of excellent British dishes with a twist from classics like Cider Battered fresh fish and chips, to an in-house burger and a Steak and Guinness pie. It’s obvious that food is of major importance here – the dishes change with the seasons and rest assured, vegetarians are catered for with the same level of detail like an Aubergine & halloumi burger. Gluten-free options also available.

But although The Wellesley is well-suited to Winter, Mark and Mark have cleverly catered for Summertime too, by setting up their converted horsebox and wood-fired pizza oven in the large outdoor courtyard and playing cool tunes on warm Summer’s evenings. Check their website and socials for details of when and where the next Pizza night is – they’re held as regularly as the weather allows.