The City Arms in Mendip

The City Arms use to be an intriguing pub to visit as it was once the City Jail way back in time. The intriguing old has been removed or covered over and been converted to looking like a updated modern interior with just the slightest nod to it's past, so unfortunately has no character, just as boring as any other modernized pub. On the upside it does still retain a pretty courtyard and gated entrance. The staff are friendly and helpful and the selection of drinks is good.

The City Arms was something of a find when visiting Wells. I see the very recent poor reviews, but I have to say we had a very good experience (and I'm a tricky audience I'm told). The pub is on the High Street, but manages to stay slightly tucked away with a courtyard entrance to the pub. The pub itself was clean, warm, friendly and apparently fairly popular with the locals. The bar area (there is a separate restaurant area) is dog friendly and there was water available for them too. Plenty of ales and local cider a good selection of drinks and an above average selection of very reasonable pub food. We are in the bar area which wasn't quite gastropub standards, but was at the upper end of pub food. Service was quick, attentive and helpful. The staff knew their menu and were chatty without being intrusive. The food was cooked well and very good value for money. If you're in Wells and looking for somewhere good and reasonably priced this could be well worth a visit.

We stayed here for just one night. Rooms were good and the pub is very atmospheric. There was no breakfast but there are plenty of options nearby. Excellent location for visiting cathedral.

Still my favourite pub in wells (and has been for twenty years). Friendly atmosphere, clean and good food.

Stopped in for a swift refreshment, staff were friendly, reasonable priced drinks, outdoor seating area, nice atmosphere.

Only stopped for a drink on a sunny afternoon. Sat in the courtyard. Lovely ambience, good service and a fabulous historic building.

Popped in for a drink on a trip to Wells. Stayed for lunch. Great gluten free selection. The wife even got to have fish and chips for a change. The food was lovely. Poppy's service was brilliant. Happy, chatty and very helpful. Would definitely recommend a visit to The City Arms

Lovely little pub ,sat in the garden was a beautiful courtyard

Good service, good choice of drinks.

Large, quiet room with a nice pub underneath that didn't bother us.

Great little pub - really nice room clean and well appointed- lovely welcome from chap in the bar who showed us to our room - live music that night which was good - no breakfast service but that’s no problem as plenty of places to grab breakfast- thanks everyone

We entered the pub at 12.30 to have a coffee before visiting the cathedral and asked what time food was being served, we were told 14.30. After visiting the cathedral, my partner chose a table on the terrace and I went into order, was told that they decided to close the kitchen at 2pm. Was very disappointed and immediately left to go elsewhere.

Nice restaurant, conveniently located, relatively good prices, outdoor seating, could watch tennis

Cool pub sat on the top deck and enjoyed a nice pint in the sun

Awful Experience at the City Arms We made the mistake of visiting the City Arms yesterday afternoon hoping to have a pleasant Sunday pub dinner with our two little girls. Informed there was no food, we bought a round of drinks for ourselves and juices for our daughters. My husband then went to fetch our car leaving me with the children. Having come straight from watching Inside Out 2 at the Wells Cinema, the kids were understandably not keen on sitting for half an hour making small talk like adults. I suggested we go inside and quietly play hide and seek in the near empty pub. We went into a side room so as not to disturb the few patrons next door and I told my girls to stay in "sight" (as in not go into any other rooms) and not to be noisy. They hid once and as we walked out again a very unfriendly man basically told me off saying "it wasn't soft play" and I shouldn't use them as a "day care centre." Now, I understand that noone wants feral children running riot around a pub when you're having a quiet drink. I always make sure my children are well behaved and respectful of adults around and had he asked me politely to keep the kids outside I would not written this review. I was shocked and appalled by how this man - I understood him to be the manager of the City Arms or in some position of leadership - thought he had the right to give me a dressing down in front of my own children, the other patrons and all his staff. He could have pulled me asked quietly but he made a point of addressing the room and I was really taken aback and felt extremely rattled afterwards. The patrons outside were outraged on my behalf too so I do not feel alone in my reaction to this extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable establishment.

We made the mistake of visiting the City Arms yesterday afternoon hoping to have a pleasant Sunday pub dinner with our two little girls. Informed there was no food, we bought a round of drinks for ourselves and juices for our daughters. My husband then went to fetch our car leaving me with the children. Having come straight from watching Inside Out 2 at the Wells Cinema, the kids were understandably not keen on sitting for half an hour making small talk like adults. I suggested we go inside and quietly play hide and seek in the near empty pub. We went into a side room so as not to disturb the few patrons next door and I told my girls to stay in "sight" (as in not go into any other rooms) and not to be noisy. They hid once and as we walked out again a very unfriendly man basically told me off saying "it wasn't soft play" and I shouldn't use them as a "day care centre." Now, I understand that noone wants feral children running riot around a pub when you're having a quiet drink. I always make sure my children are well behaved and respectful of adults around and had he asked me politely to keep the kids outside I would not written this review. I was shocked and appalled by how this man - I understood him to be the manager of the City Arms or in some position of leadership - thought he had the right to give me a dressing down in front of my own children, the other patrons and all his staff. He could have pulled me asked quietly but he made a point of addressing the room and I was really taken aback and felt extremely rattled afterwards. The patrons outside were outraged on my behalf too so I do not feel alone in my reaction to this extremely unwelcoming and inhospitable establishment.

Stayed here for 2 nights 04-06/07/2024. The building dates from 1549 when it was the city gaol. It serves reasonably priced drinks in the pub and attracts lots of locals. The yard where you enter the premises can become busy with smokers, including staff members, which can be off-putting if you're not! Decent enough room on 1st floor (accessed by the outdoor spiral staircase) with good facilities. Nice large walk-in shower. Comfy beds. Quite clean throughout except for cobwebby corner of the bathroom ceiling! The room's window was fixed except for 2 small open vents which made the room too warm and stuffy. Nice sun terrace outside where you can enjoy a drink from the pub's bar. What staff we encountered were friendly and helpful.

Was a good night out with live music

We were in Wells having drinks and made this a stop of the pubs we went to loved it very smart clean and tidy with good beer

Lovely pub we had a couple of drinks very nice places

Nice courtyard seating for a drink in good weather. Food very poor. Huge battered fish with very little and tastless fish.

Lovely pub with lots of history and character, had a lovely pint of ale in the sunny courtyard!

Stayed here yesterday and what a lovely stay. Staff very welcoming food delicious. Our room was excellent very clean and comfortable. Would certainly recommend it and I wouldn't hesitate to stay here again.

Nice little pub, lacking atmosphere I feel, could be so much better..

I've never stayed in the rooms. But the pub is a fantastic location, the staff are friendly and it's a nice bar to spend time in.

Interesting pub in building which is a former Gaol). Friendly service, decent ale, good value food though limited menu.

Had a couple of drinks this afternoon. Really nice atmosphere and the ladies working were really friendly. Great pub.

Lovely little pub popped in for a drink before our coach back

Nice old pub, plenty of character, quite busy on a Friday night but staff served as quuckly as they could. Lots of space past the bar away from the live music. In the summer, lots of outside tables too. I even managed to find the ladies loo which used to be the original jail cell!

Lovely old pub food was delicious and staff were very friendly and polite

Delicious burger and great service. Lovely atmosphere and authentic. Great ale to have with my meal! Truly enjoyed ourselves.

Met my wife here 50 years ago today. So we went back for lunch with our 2 friends who brought us together. Perfect

Nice pub, friendly bat staff, nice atmosphere.

We visited on Saturday lunch time 16th December, the lady serving at the bar was very abrupt and we witnessed the same approach to other customers, when we ordered a second round and asked for extra ice it was like we had asked to have the drinks for free, such a shame as lovely pub we visit regularly but felt the young lady is perhaps not best suited to hospitality or would benefit from some additional guidance.

Nice place for a drink, friendly staff

Another wonderful stay at the City Arms. Lovely location, staff amazing, always sad to leave. Can't wait for my next visit.

Nice little pub with loads of character and great atmosphere.

Lovely pub in the heart of Wells.

We chose The City Arms because it was so conveniently located in Wells. The bonuses were the rooms, the ales available and the friendliness and helpfulness of all the staff. The way up to the rooms is by external stairs which are very easy to walk up as they are wide and there are only about twelve steps David

I only called in for a drink but I thought it was a lovely place. Good selection of drinks and helpful staff. The City Arms is a beautiful old building, which was once a gaol. Would definitely go back if I was in the area again.

Called into here for lunch such nice helpful friendly staff. Good lay out and excellent value £10 for ham egg and chips. Will be back!

Very nice pub with outside seating to eat and relax. Food and beer was very nice

Love this little pub been 3 times now while holidaying in wells. Cute little cosy corners. Feels quite ghostly! Looking to stay here next time! Sadly was fully booked.

Amazing restaurant good vibes very polite staff.

If you like a no taste curry then this is the place for you. Amuse yourself by hunting for a piece of chicken amongst the collection of vegetables that have all their flavour removed by the tasteless sauce. Not the tika that the name suggested. The younger members of the team are friendly..............

This spot is amazing for very nice and quiet Dinners with very polite members of staff and I am surprised with how much tables they have got

The service and location were great here !

Fabulous pub with great energy and lovely outdoor area. Went with some friends whilst staying The Crown hotel in Glastonbury (also amazing). The pub had live music and plenty of options for both food and drink. Would highly recommend! The staff were super friendly - thanks so much for looking after us so well.

My wife and I popped in on a Monday afternoon for lunch. Good welcome. Polite staff. Good food. Nice atmosphere.

Used to be the city gaol lovely pub great beer 🍺

Tasty sandwiches, good drinks (lots of choice) Reasonable prices (4 persons lunch + 1 drink approximately €38)

My biggest regret is neglecting to take a photo of what this establishment laughingly calls a hamburger. At best it was a tiny piece of mincemeat, pulverised and pummeled flat so as to fit the bun but failing even in that simple undertaking. On top of this excuse for a pattie, it was tasteless and not even salt or ketchup could come to its rescue. At £12.95 I felt robbed. It goes without saying this place will not see my family or myself again.

Lovely pub huge choice of beers and spirits

Lovely city centre pub. Called in for a late lunch whilst on holiday to get out of the rain. Managed to get a table in the room out the back - didn't know the pub had so many rooms! Friendly staff and constantly cleaning down tables as people leave. Good menu and good choice of real ales and cider. We both had lasagne (one meat, one veg) with salad and garlic bread and a side of chips (as you do). Delivered quickly and very tasty although there wasn't a great deal of meat in mine? A nice pub to while away an hour or so.

very nice pint, very friendly, cosy, a place to linger

Great location and a nice selection of beers. Can't comment on the food as just popped in for a cold one.

Lovely service, good, well priced food and decent cider on tap. We sat outside up the stairs which was a very pleasant little veranda, (used by smokers and vapers. Doesn't bother us, but be aware). I had a mozzarella and tomato panino. Nice fresh panino well filled with tasy, good quailty ingredients. The salad on the side was nice, and the chips excellent, although I didn't actually need them so I shared with my daughter. She had goat's cheese with beetroot salad. The cheese had been griddled so it was warm, with two roasted garlic cloves on the top. Yum! Tasty, tender beetroot salad which went perfectly with it. It will certainly be our lunch place next time we are in Wells.

Ok but food disappointing. Curry lacking in meat!

Service was friendly. Lovely courtyard and balcony to sit out and enjoy a drink on a sunny afternoon.

Very oldie worldly pub that steeps in history. Sat outside in the lovely cosy courtyard drinking a fine locally brewed real ale. Staff helpful and friendly, good typical pub grub on the menu catering for all tastes and preferences.

Pub is in the middle of town with easy access to everything. The room was large with a comfy bed and huge walk in shower. Tea and coffee station and bathroom toiletries provided. The only thing I would suggest is some black out blinds as the room got light very early in June. There is no parking on site but you can park outside after 6pm. The Princess Road Car Park by the bus station is 2 minutes walk from the pub and is long stay and very reasonable. Would definitely stay again. Shame they don’t serve breakfast though but there are plenty of options within few minutes walk

Good customer service, beautiful decorated and good value for money. I will return soon

Great pub for a drink and chat after a meal at a local Greek restaurant. Landlady (?) did an admirable job of dealing with a passing troublemaker.

Lovely Pub, really enjoyed the food, reasonable prices, and attentive staff. The outside garden is great! I highly recommend it.

Very special place it is an old jail,,,,,

WELLS Holiday (09-05-23) Popped in after one in 'The Kings Head' but no football on but it did have a better atmosphere, a great history to the pub and a nice pint, only stayed for one but a good time.

Great place for a pint. Lovely relaxing atmosphere and locals friendly 🍻👍

A great pub with great character and history

What a fantastic pub with a great history. Staff were super friendly and cheerful, very spacious, warm and cosy with plenty of seating plus a restaurant area. Definitely recommend.

Quirky pub as it used to be a jail. Good selection of ales.

Poured a cutting Edge Madrid today at exactly 17:37, it simply Broke the boundaries of how one can pour, 10/10 Would buy Again

Great historic site in a brilliant town. Beer good too!

Great old fashioned pub, very nice inside and dog friendly

Lovely warm welcome, full of character, dog friendly

Lovely pub with good history. Nice pint of Tribute.

Service was fast and drinks and food were good. Did bottomless brunch and it was really good value for money

Called in for lunch in a favorite pub from years ago. This pub is stunning, lots of cosy places to sit and the service is outstanding. The new restaurant part is lovely, with the old windows. The food we had was excellent, the wine was great. Only suggestion would be some good main vegetarian dishes, in the old days sausage mash, peas and gravy was great, could easily be done vegetarian.

Wells on a Saturday is always busy , the cafes round the market are heaving at lunch time, but just down the main street is the city Arms , warm clean, friendly. All the staff are cheerful and friendly and nothing is to much trouble,...

This is a fantastic little pub with comfortable seating inside and a small courtyard outside. Good selection of beers and friendly staff.

Great bottomless brunch for students with greater service, food and drinks!!! Would recommend to any students in Oxford!!

Had the best birthday brunch here, service was amazing (no trying to skimp you out of your drinks!) and often got the next before the previous was even halfway down. Menu slightly limited but ultimately not what we’re here for. Had a great time xx

Hello ! This is such a lovely pub. Great vibes, super lovely staff and very nice decor. Also very economically efficient - did the bottomless brunch, and is great value for money. Thank you !

Had an excellent meal of Fish and Chips here, service was good and the staff were very friendly. Good choice of dishes.

Having decided to enjoy the whole of Wells , we found this pub on our first walk. The general atmosphere and staff were very friendly, with a great choice of traditional pub food and ales. The layout is specious with plenty of tables both inside...

Working in wells I'd always planed to pop in for lunch too wet today for my ussely sandwich by the cathedral. Really glad I did proper pub food great selection resanbel price great amopser. Cosy liked the hecks cidar I chose a oanni which came...

As our tour wound its way from Northern England to the south, I began to despair of a decent meal without a frustrating hassle. However, mentioned to nice young lady that bus was leaving SOON, but could she accommodate us? All answers were "yes". So,...

We had dinner here as it looked quaint, the service was quick and the food well cooked. Loads of seating away from the bar or you coukd if you prefer sit closer.

Very warm and welcoming pub. The young man behind the bar is a credit to this establishment. Good selection of beers. Courtyard garden is lovely. Food good value. Will definitely return if I am back in Wells.

We found this place by accident, when shopping in Wells. The food is great and a good selection of beers and drinks. The bar staff are excellent and can't do enough for you. Well worth a visit.

I visited the city arms whilst visiting friends in Wells. The staff were very friendly and polite. There was a great choice of beers and it was kept to a high standard. 10/10

Lovely pub with lots of history begins it, the locals appear to really enjoy it. Wry friendly staff. Small garden area to sit outside. Shame they stamp service g food so early, we tried to order a panini and 2:55pm and were told that they...

Abbiamo soggiornato nelle camere di City Arms Pubs, per un soggiorno itinerante in Inghilterra. Le camere sono pulite e la...

Nice all round pub, good selection of beers. Nice gardens outside. Food was just average for pub food

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, We had to do a review to get a drink in the last 5 minutes of our bottomless brunch so here I am!

We visited the City Arms while in Wells during June 2022. We were particularly taken with its historic exterior and had thought that the interior would likely be the same, reflecting its former use as a gaol. However the interior was fairly clinical and modern,...

Very nice looking pub with polite and accommodating barmaids in particular Anna and Isla would poured great pints.

It's not often I comment on service but in this case I have to, on a recent visit to Wells I decided to have a meal and a drink at the City Arms the staff that greeted me and the table staff were the most...

What a lovely find whilst visiting the area. Lovely lunch in the courtyard. It was very busy, being a sunny holiday weekend but service was friendly and efficient and complemented the delicious food we had. Thank you.

Six of us seniors on a fairly quiet Monday evening had a great time. Food was good and enjoyed by all. Real ales at the bar and friendly, efficient service from Eve and Rachel made our evening. Look forward to going in again when we...

Really enjoyed our lunch here. It was a Sunday lunchtime but they didn't appear to do a roast. My ham, eggs and chips was good. Service was quick and the eggs cooked to perfection. The staff were attentive without being intrusive. We were a bit...