Landlords of award-winning gastropub bid an emotional farewell

The landlords behind an "impressive" award-winning gastropub have moved on after sharing an emotional farewell to customers. The White Post at Rimpton near Yeovil, serves delicious food and boasts breathtaking and far-reaching countryside views.

The beloved pub, which has been featured in food guides and on TV, was placed on the market in early 2023 with a guide price of £595,000. Landlords Brett and Carly Sutton decided to "reluctantly" sell the pub due to health issues.

After 10 successful years at the helm, the landlords shared "all good things have to come to an end, probably not fully the way we really would have liked it". But they paid tribute to the regular customers, their tireless staff and the growing reputation of The White Post.

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They shared on social media: "We have grown the pub front and back and taken it as far as we can take it! It now needs someone with a new energy and body capable to take it on & forward!

"We feel like we’ve put TWP (The White Post) on the map and pushed as hard as we can and we’re immensely proud of what we’ve achieved! We’ve made lots of friends along the way and plenty of memories to cherish forever!

"Thank you for being part of our journey and ticking a big box of something I wanted ever since I was a trainee over 35 years ago to own my own restaurant but health and family must come first, I have the most amazing, patient and loving wife in Carly, fab children and a very supporting loving family both here in Somerset and Portsmouth and but it’s time for them & time for me to enjoy that fully!

"We have some amazing staff that have helped us past and present so a huge massive thank you to them and to every one of you that’s visited over the years! Simply thank you, words are never enough but genuinely can’t thank you enough from the bottom of our hearts!"

Many customers were left saddened by the news and wished Brett and Carly Sutton the best for the future. Nicky Cohen shared: "Thank you for everything. The leaving meal you did for me in 2017 was the best and so memorable!

"We’ve loved being a tiny part of your journey! Good luck to you all for the future and stay safe."

Cindy Douch commented: "So sad to hear this Brett, but your health is the most important thing and as you say, you need to see more birthdays! You should be immensely proud of building TWP into such a fabulous place to eat with such a great reputation. You will be missed by so many."

Teresa Gibbs wrote: "Your family and health have to come first Brett. You guys have done an amazing job with The White Post and leave a legacy.

"But you have too many memories to now make with Carly so time to put your chef whites up. Wish you both health and happiness."

Dating back to the 1800s, the White Post at Rimpton is believed to be the only pub in the UK that straddles a county border. The border between Somerset and Dorset cuts the pub in half.

The county line runs right through the middle of the bar. Many years ago, when Dorset and Somerset had different licensing laws, people were forced to move from one end of the pub to the other at 10pm in order to continue drinking legally until 10.30pm.

Nowadays, the pub boasts a host of accolades, including being voted one of the 50 best gastropubs in the country, and an award for serving the best Sunday lunch in the nation. It has also been featured in the Michelin guide for top quality food.