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.

Despite not being able to reach the hotel because of a road block, not being able to speak to anyone when we phoned (and we tried several times), being offered parking options that were not available or impractical as a stop from our check-in to check-out, meaning we had to carry our luggage through town from Waitrose long-stay car park, no reception staff for most of our stay and not being able to get breakfast in the hotel, we actually liked the place. ||The location is ideal for visiting the cathedral and also for excellent restaurants and coffee shops. The passage to our room felt a little like a worm hole; it goes in all directions at rather curious angles. The room offered a view across the green to the cathedral. The clock chimes every quarter; you’ll hear it if you’re awake but it didn’t keep us awake. The bathroom has a bath and a hose with a shower head but no shower. Hot water supply is good. The room had a nice feel about it.||The building is definitely old and the hotel has an eccentric charm. We’d stay there again, if we were not driving.

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 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.

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.

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.