There’s something wonderfully reassuring about staying at a pub with rooms. Downstairs, the hum of conversation, good food arriving at nearby tables and the gentle buzz of the bar. Upstairs, a comfortable room of your own to retreat to when you’re ready, knowing you don’t have far to go at the end of the evening. It’s that easy balance of atmosphere and privacy that makes pub stays feel so relaxed.
These characterful new discoveries have joined the Sawday’s collection for 2026, and whether they’re perched by the sea or tucked into walking country, all share the winning formula of characterful bedrooms, welcoming hospitality and kitchens that celebrate great local food. With so many wonderful places to explore close to home, it’s shaping up to be a very good year for a UK pub staycation.
1. The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire
Historic coaching inn with stylish rooms
Dating back to 1865, The Bradley Hare blends the character of a traditional coaching inn with beautifully considered design. Inside you’ll find antique furniture, rugs over wooden floors, candlelight flickering beside open fires and shelves of pewter mugs and decanters.
The kitchen, led by Jaek Kelly, celebrates the South West larder with menus shaped by the seasons. Expect local game, farm-reared meats, day boat fish and plenty of vegetables grown nearby, all paired happily with their own Hare Ale or something local from the bar. Bedrooms are deeply comfortable, dressed in rich fabrics with Siberian goose down duvets, roll-top baths and a well stocked larder of treats. After breakfast, perhaps chalk stream trout with perfectly scrambled eggs, you’ll feel all set up for a day exploring Stourhead, Bruton or the surrounding Wiltshire countryside.
2. The Winyard’s Gap Inn, Dorset
Country inn for walkers
Set high in the Dorset hills with sweeping views towards the Somerset Levels, The Winyard’s Gap Inn is a welcoming stop for walkers, cyclists and anyone craving a countryside reset. The bar is cosy and informal with a log burner, board games and chalkboard menus listing daily specials. In the dining room you’ll find well executed pub classics alongside more inventive dishes, using meat from local suppliers and fish delivered fresh from Brixham market.
Bedrooms are calm and comfortable, dressed in soft colours with feather-and-down bedding, Nespresso machines and Bramley scented bathrooms. Spend your days walking the surrounding hills, exploring the Jurassic Coast or visiting nearby West Bay before returning for a well earned dinner. On warm evenings the garden is the place to be, pint in hand as the sun drops over the hills.
3. The Royal Castle, Devon
Historic harbour inn in the heart of Dartmouth
Right on Dartmouth’s bustling harbourfront, this historic inn has long been a favourite with locals and visitors alike. Inside, antique furniture, oil paintings and a lively bar create a welcoming, slightly grand atmosphere. Two informal bar areas are perfect for coffee and croissants in the morning or a pint and light lunch later in the day, while the upstairs dining room offers harbour views alongside a seasonal menu of quality pub classics and daily specials.
Bedrooms occupy the upper floors and range from cosy retreats to rooms with great views over the Dart estuary. All come with well dressed beds, proper coffee machines and sparkling bathrooms stocked with Cornish Land & Water products. Wake early, grab a window seat at breakfast and watch the harbour slowly come to life. Explore Dartmouth’s shops, take the ferry across the river or head out along the coast path, before returning to the buzz of the bar.
4. The Harcourt Arms, Oxfordshire
Village inn between Oxford and the Cotswolds
Perfectly placed between Oxford and the honey-stone villages of the Cotswolds, this characterful 17th-century inn blends historic charm with contemporary comfort. Inside, beamed ceilings, flagged floors and candlelit wooden tables create a cosy backdrop for relaxed meals.
The bar and dining areas centre around a fire in winter, while the terrace becomes a suntrap in warmer months, often hosting live music. The menu is seasonal, with midweek steaks, weekend pizzas and well-kept ales on tap. The bedrooms have colourful headboards and plenty of space. The standout Blenheim Suite ups the romance with a grand four-poster bed and a copper tub set within the room. Head out for a wander around Oxford’s dreaming spires or Cotswold villages before settling in for the evening.
5. The Kings Arms, Cumbria
Historic Lakeland inn in a charming village
In the heart of postcard pretty Hawkshead, this beautifully restored 1700s inn makes a wonderfully atmospheric base for exploring the Lake District. Low ceilings, ancient beams and flagged floors set the scene inside, balanced by rich colours, striking wallpapers and carefully chosen artwork. The bar is a welcoming spot for a local ale or a glass of wine, with light bites and sandwiches by day and a seasonal menu for dinner. Sunday lunch is served in the dining room, while a south facing patio offers church views and a sunny perch for summer drinks.
Upstairs, eight individually styled bedrooms are cosy rather than vast, but they’re dressed in gorgeous linens and come with spoiling en suite bathrooms. With Windermere nearby, Beatrix Potter’s house to visit and dramatic Lakeland fells all around, it’s easy to see why Wordsworth found so much inspiration here.
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6. The Boathouse, Bath
Riverside pub stay
Set right on the banks of the River Avon, just outside Bath, this bright and welcoming pub makes a lovely base for combining countryside calm with city exploring. Rowers glide past on the water while locals gather on the terrace and riverside benches for lunch and long summer evenings.
The atmosphere is relaxed and sociable, with a bar and dining room, and a beautiful conservatory for more intimate meals. The kitchen serves up crowd pleasing pub classics and seasonal dishes, with good options for families too. Upstairs, nine en suite bedrooms are light and comfortable in soft blue and white tones. Many have private balconies overlooking the river and fields, perfect for a quiet sundowner before heading downstairs for dinner. Take the short 10-minute trip into Bath on the Park & Ride for galleries, architecture and shops. Frome, Bristol and Bradford-on-Avon are all close by too.
7. The Ness, Devon
Waterside pub with rooms on the Teign estuary
Sat above the Teign estuary in the seaside village of Shaldon, The Ness pairs water views with an easy going coastal atmosphere. Built in 1810 as a summer home, the building now houses a lively pub where walkers from the South West Coast Path mingle with locals. Heritage greens, vintage photographs and polished wooden floors nod to the pub’s maritime past, and fireside chairs and snug corners make it wonderfully cosy in chilly weather. The conservatory dining room is popular, but in summer the wraparound balcony and front lawn is the place to be.
Twelve nautically themed bedrooms are spread between the main house and an annexe, with the best enjoying private balconies overlooking the estuary. You won’t be lost for things to fill your time with here. Walk the coast path, explore Shaldon and Teignmouth or head inland to Dartmoor. In the evening, order a drink and watch the boats bob past, with your mind at ease knowing the logistics of the day are done and bed is just a few steps away.
8. The Smuggler’s Inn, Dorset
Historic coastal inn on the Jurassic Coast
Hidden in a sheltered hollow beneath the cliffs, this part thatched 13th century inn feels steeped in stories. With low beamed ceilings, huge fireplaces and plenty of nooks and crannies, it’s easy to imagine the smugglers rumoured to once hid contraband here. Today it’s a relaxed stop on the Jurassic Coast, with the sea sparkling nearby and the South West Coast Path just minutes away. On sunny days, the garden tables fill with walkers and beachgoers enjoying hearty pub classics and cold drinks, and when the weather turns, the sofas beside the wood-burner are hard to beat.
Up a narrow staircase, eight bedrooms are simple and restful with nautical tones, throws and en suite bathrooms. Spend your days exploring fossil beaches or walking to Durdle Door before returning for a generous dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Make your next trip a special Sawday’s pub with rooms
The beauty of a pub with rooms lies in the simple pleasure of how the day is set out for you. Mornings begin slowly with something hearty, days unfold out in the landscape or along the coast, and evenings draw you back to warmth, conversation, a table waiting downstairs and a bed upstairs. These new additions for 2026 each offer their own take on that simple pleasure, making it easier than ever to turn a good pub into a very good getaway.
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Beth Tingle
Beth is our Marketing & Content Coordinator, who uses her experience in all things content to get to the heart of the stories and people behind our places and paint an authentic picture of what makes them truly special. She then helps the SEO team to ensure that content reaches as many people as possible. Raised in the small seaside town of Clevedon, she then studied English at Falmouth University and is happiest when swimming in the sea. A huge foodie, she enjoys travel that involves finding the best local markets and cooking up the produce in a self-catered stay.
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