The Ancient Gatehouse Hotel

We stayed at the Ancient Gate House Hotel to celebrate our wedding anniversary. When you enter the building, you quickly see why the hotel was named so. The ceilings are quite low and the corridors narrower than in modern buildings. In our opinion, this enhances the character of the building which actually dates from 1451 with later amendments! One of the staff kindly let us explore the oldest part of the building complete with spiral staircase. Wonderful!||If you're visiting Wells to explore, the Ancient Gatehouse is in the perfect location. 5 minutes from the cathedral, the Bishop's Palace and Gardens and the city centre.||Our room was delightful - very well maintained and clean with a fantastic view across to Wells Cathedral. ||The owner and staff were so friendly - they made us feel totally at home and were happy to chat. I tried out my limited Italian on the owner and it raised a smile. Nothing was too much trouble.||Would we go back? Yes, most definitely. Staying at the Ancient Gate House enhanced our visit to Wells.

Great location. The room had a king size bed which was very comfortable. Unfortunately we were unable to get a room with a view of the Cathedral. The only disappointment was the shower room. The shower cubicle was very small and unsuitable for a large person. Also there were hardly any products available including shower cap which is unusual. The staff were very helpful and we enjoyed an evening meal in the restaurant. We didn’t have breakfast.

I chose the Ancient Gatehouse as it sounded like it would compliment the medieval experience that is Wells. I was delighted that I did as it was just what I was after.||Expensive? Not at all. My room was GBP105 for an atmospheric, well-presented room with a king-sized bed and as new bathroom.||Location? Right in the centre of town with a short walk to the major Wells draw cards.||Parking? No. This was the only downside of the location but for me it wasn’t enough of a hassle to reduce my rating. It might be an issue for some, particularly if you have lots of luggage.||Dining? The Italian restaurant on ground level was superb with lots of options and excellent service.||Overall: If you have mobility issues, I suggest that this is not for you as access to the accommodation is typically ‘medieval’ so it’s tight, steep and winding. The lack of nearby parking may also be a nuisance for some. I did not meet one member of staff that wasn’t helpful and seemed genuinely interested in helping me. ||Would I go back? Yes this is now my ‘go to’ when visiting Wells.

I chose this hotel because of its proximity to the cathedral square. Unfortunately the cathedral has scaffolding up for much of this summer. The room was up the top of the stairs so was a bit of a tricky problem though we were ok. Very helpful staff and very friendly. We parked 100 yards away overnight on the cathedral green road. Would definitely choose to stay here again.

Great location near the cathedral and terrific, friendly service. Very helpful with directions to surrounding sights and attractions. The restaurant is quite good but also popular so best to book early. The hotel has considerable character, making it a fun place to stay.

If you're looking to have great Wells experience, I highly recommend the Ancient Gatehouse. The staff are amazing and the beamed timber rooms really added to the ambience. Location is perfect for many of the Wells drawcards and I enjoyed a lovely pizza in the restaurant at night.

1 night stay whilst visiting Wells. Very comfortable and good staff. A fantastic breakfast.

It is without doubt one of the finest views I have ever had from a hotel window - set upon the arch of the gateway to the cathedral, and looking back at the structure in all its glory. We had the much anticipated Room Nine, which is in the tower above the arch and has a distinctly medieval feel. its accessed by a thin passageway off the first floor, followed by a rather daunting accent up a winding stone tower stairway which is not suitable for anyone with either height issues or accessibility problems - Its an adventure, but be aware you need to be able to climb these steep steps to get to it! ||Once you get to the room its a treat. A hand carved four poster, the view, the sheer feel of history and nostalgia all add to the sense its a bit of a romantic fantasy. The bathroom, is a couple of steps below on the same stairwell just outside the door. Again, access wise its a little steep, and if you have had a couple of 'Ales' you need to be careful of the short journey down those steps. But its a great bathroom, one of the most luxurious I have come across. It retains period charm with a ostentatious full size copper bathtub, but mixes a bright modern shower and WC without any compromise. Hot water is there within seconds and room is huge.||Me and my wife had the most wonderful two days, and Wells was another great discovery. Loads of pubs and restaurants. a food market on Saturday, the cathedral, castle moat and great explorations through the town. Sadly, we did not get chance to sample the restaurant that was attached to the property, we simply ran out oftime - but the menu looked very good.||Things to know: ||A) Parking is not nearby, at least five to ten mins walk albeit flat. We opted for fifteen mins and parked for free to the north on the roads outside the town, but there are long stays at the Waitrose for a fee.||B) Room nine (ours) is not suitable for anyone who struggles with access (as above), but most other rooms looked perfectly fine in this regard.||C) Two o'clock check in, and eleven o'clock check out are generous nowadays - and a credit to the management.||D) Staff were extremely helpful (even when we locked our key in the room by mistake). keys give access 24/7||E) Great nights sleep, not a sound except the occasional dull chime of a cathedral bell.