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Old Reading Room

Mells, Somerset
Bed & Breakfast
+44 (0)7769 975991

Per night
£125

2 rooms

Rooms sleep 2

Relaxing B&B with views of woodland and fields, a cottage garden and friendly poodle. On a quiet lane, a stroll from the middle of Mells

Per night
£125

Contact the owner directly to check date availability and secure your booking.

The Experience

Mells is a treasure with its medieval centre and liberal sprinkling of charming cottages. You’ll find Vicky and John’s attractive house up a lane in the quiet wooded valley on the edge of the village.

It’s a home with a friendly feel and entertaining hosts. Sleep well in a bedroom in the eaves, listen to the hoot of owls at night and birdsong in the morning and come down for a generous breakfast in the kitchen: delicious local bread, fruit and eggs laid by happy hens within a cockerel’s crow of the kitchen.

Sit out in the sunny cottage garden, head off on walks from the door. A 10-minute stroll through the village takes you back centuries – thatched houses, a beautiful church (famous for its Munnings equine statue and the graves of Ronnie Knox and Siegfried Sassoon), a tithe barn – and a particularly welcoming, highly recommended coaching inn, The Talbot.

We think you'll love

Sitting at the kitchen table eating Vicky's legendary breakfast
Strolling down to The Talbot Inn for dinner
The warm welcome from Vicky, John and Pompom the poodle

You should know

The bathroom has a traditional roll-top bath and shower attachment
One room has a separate bathroom next door

Essentials

EV charger
Swimming pool
Hot tub
Garden
Open fire / woodburner
Breakfast included
Breakfast available
Meals available
Vegetarian meals
Oven
Parking on premises
Free parking nearby
Accessible by public transport
WiFi
Television
Spa
Central heating
Limited mobility
Wheelchair access
Mobile reception
Hob
Bar
Barbecue
Licensed premises
Paid parking nearby
Air conditioning
Relaxation areas
Washing machine
Tennis court
Microwave oven
No smoking
Credit cards
Working farm
Owner has pets
Dishwasher
Pets welcome

Family friendly

Baby monitor
Books and toys
Children welcome
Babies welcome
Stair gates
High chair
Fire guard
Cot available

Nearby

Pub/bar within 3 miles
Restaurant within 3 miles
Shop within 3 miles

Activities

Bikes available
Food courses
Kayaking
Other courses
Sailing
Surfing
Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price: £125

2 Doubles: £125

Information

Booking information

Check in: Flexible
Check out: By 11am
Closed: Rarely.
No smoking: Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Owner has pets: Animals living on the property
Meals: Pubs/restaurants 5-minute walk.

Reviews

Sharon May 2014

Quite honestly this was the warmest welcome, the most interesting house, the most delightful hosts and the most enjoyable breakfast we have experienced. This really is what a b&b is all about - the chance to stay in a beautiful and historic place with the charm and warmth offered by a personal service. After a hard week at work we could not have asked for a more relaxing and enjoyable experience. Our room was quaint and delightful, the bed super comfortable, the silent night a blessing and the roll-top bath a treat. I cannot recommend the hosts and their beautiful house highly enough.

Kerry Apr 2014

We have enjoyed two delightful stays at the Reading Room, and we cannot recommend it highly enough. The house and guest room is decorated to the highest standard with all the comforts of home. The hosts are wonderful, and the breakfast delicious, freshly prepared and served in John and Vicky's inviting kitchen. The Reading Room is an easy walk into the beautiful village of Mells, and dining at The Talbot is another not-to-miss treat. We will be back!

Dominic Jan 2014

Excellent bedroom and delicious breakfast. Our hosts were charming and friendly, driving us to a local restaurant and even offering us an aperitif. I wouldn't hesitate recommending them.

lee

The readings are a delight, made even better by John and Vicky who simply the most marvellous hosts. We stayed for 2 nights with our son Gabriel and just loved the charm of this beautiful house, situated in a quiet cul de sac behind Mells village. The breakfast was generous and Gabriel loved the crispy bacon, with fresh fruit and choice of fresh tea and coffee. We are members of Babington house so spent most of our free time their, and Mells is so close it only takes 5 minutes to get there.

Sue

A real gem of a find! We were there for just 2 nights, but wished we had time to stay longer. Vicky and John's house is simply beautiful, the village is how you might imagine the perfect English village to be, and the hosts were really welcoming. Delicious breakfast too! We arrived at the perfect time for the wild garlic, so found some lovely walks in the area.

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Location

The neighbourhood

Mells is a delightful medieval Somerset village. There’s a community-owned shop, post office and café; the walled garden café serving outdoor snacks and drinks from April to October; and the popular Talbot Inn (10-minute walk). Frome is a 10-minute drive – a thriving town with galleries, bars, good restaurants, independent shops and an excellent market on the first Sunday of the month. Babington House (five minutes) has it all: restaurant, bars, spa, events, wedding venue, gardens and more. Longleat or Wells can be reached in 25 minutes, Bath 30. And don’t forget Bruton for Hauser and Wirth art gallery and restaurant, and The Chapel with its huge bread oven (20 minutes).

Local points of interest from Vicky & John Macdonald

Stunning medieval village of Mells, its centre little changed. Selwood Street, The famous Talbot Inn, St Andrew's Church, with works by works by Munnongs, Lutyens and Burne - Jones, and our lovely friendly community-owned shop, PO and Café.
There is a walled garden in Mells open in spring and summer - fine variety of plants and flowers as well as restaurant and Pizzeria. Walks from 1 to 4 hours from the door - detailed written guides in your room.
20-30 minutes drive to Wells (amazing Cathedral and interesting medieval town), Roman and Georgian UNESCO-site Bath (all amazing!), Glastonbury (The famous Tor and the home of the music Festival), Bradford
20 minute drive and close to the Sustrans bike route (and tunnel) to Bath. Home to Roman baths, Holborne museum and gallery. Famous Theatre Royal. Stourhead (where Chippendale learnt his craft), Montacute House (used for Wolf Hall)
10 minute drive to Frome - the home of vintage clothing, a monthly super-market (town filled with artisan stalls). Longleat nearby (wonderful house, events and Safari Park). Bradford-on-Avon ('baby Bath”). Most attractive and vibrant.
Babington House 5 minutes drive (we'll drop you there for weddings). 15 mins to Bruton, with Hauser and Wirth gallery and farm shop to visit. Spectacular gourmet OSIP restaurant nearby and the Newt hotel with its amazing garden

Introducing

Vicky & John Macdonald

After spending most of their adult lives in London and abroad, John and Vicky came across their house (and Mells) by pure chance and have been settled here happily for years. With children flown the nest they started B&B in 2013 – initially prompted by the number of visiting wedding guests. They enjoy getting to know their guests and helping them make the most of their visit to this area.