Shepton Mallet hotel comes under new ownership

A hotel on the outskirts of Shepton Mallet in Somerset has come under new ownership. Imran Ali - the former general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol - has taken over The Well Inn on the A37.

Mr Ali has worked in the hospitality sector for 25 years and was also previously general manager of Hampton by Hilton Bristol and Radisson Blu Bristol.

Work has already started to upgrade the 16-bedroom property, including improvements to the bar and 42-cover restaurant. A new private dining room has also been created which can host up to 16 people.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have taken over The Well Inn. It has a long history and has been here since around the late 17th century. As many people know the venue gets its name from a well that sits in the floor of the Inn. Dropping 53 feet beneath the restaurant floor is an interesting historical feature."

Mr Ali's plans for the venue include landscaping the outside area to make it into a year-round usable beer garden. He has also pledged to keep the food "simple and affordable" while using as much local produce as possible.

He said: "Think of classic pub comfort food. We’ll also be looking to introduce seasonal specials so will rotate what’s on the menu during the year. With most of the ingredients coming from within a 15-mile radius, the emphasis will be on serving seasonal, local dishes.

“We want The Well Inn to become a place where people can pop in for a drink and enjoy a decent lunch or dinner, feeling they want to come back again and again."

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