Four of our favourite local pubs near Hartley Farm

We’re lucky to live and work in a particularly good part of the world for pubs.

From proper village locals to riverside spots worth building a walk around, there are plenty of brilliant places for a pint, something to eat or an afternoon spent doing very little at all.

So, if you’re visiting Hartley Farm and fancy exploring a little further afield, here are four of our favourite pubs in and around Winsley and Bradford-on-Avon.

The Hop Pole, Limpley Stoke

A beautiful old village pub with a rather special story behind it, The Hop Pole in Limpley Stoke is well worth the short trip from Hartley.

After closing in 2018, the Grade II-listed pub was bought by the local community and eventually reopened in January 2025 following a huge fundraising and restoration effort. Today it feels like exactly what a good village pub should be: warm, welcoming and genuinely connected to the people who live around it.

The food is a particularly good reason to visit. There’s a strong emphasis on seasonal, locally sourced produce, including ingredients from the landlord’s family farm just a mile away, with a menu that takes traditional British pub food and gives it a little extra polish.

There’s a lovely garden for warmer days too, while regular events, food trucks and community gatherings help make the Hop Pole feel like much more than somewhere to simply stop for a drink.

Best for: Really good pub food and a brilliant community atmosphere.

The Seven Stars, Winsley

We couldn’t put together a list of local pubs without including our own village pub.

The Seven Stars sits right here in Winsley, just down the road from Hartley, and is the sort of friendly local that works equally well for a quick drink, an easy midweek supper or a Sunday lunch.

Food is firmly rooted in the pub classics, with home-cooked favourites alongside dishes taking inspiration from further afield, and an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

It’s also a proper part of village life, with events and live music throughout the year. If you’re visiting us and want somewhere nearby to carry on your day afterwards, this is about as local as it gets.

Best for: A proper village pub close to Hartley.

The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

Head into Bradford-on-Avon and you’ll find The Three Horseshoes, or simply “The Shoes” to plenty of locals.

Sitting near the railway station on the edge of the town centre, this old coaching inn is something of a Bradford-on-Avon institution. It’s lively, characterful and refreshingly unpolished – a proper pub rather than a restaurant that happens to have a bar.

There are usually changing ales on the pumps, often from local breweries, while live music is a big part of life at The Shoes, with bands, DJs and other events regularly taking over the pub.

Food pop-ups and independents have also become part of the scene around The Shoes and neighbouring Station Approach, making this little corner of Bradford-on-Avon particularly worth knowing about.

Come for a pint; don’t be surprised if you stay considerably longer than intended.

Best for: Live music, local beer and proper pub atmosphere.

The Cross Guns, Avoncliff

Some pubs are worth visiting for the setting alone, and The Cross Guns at Avoncliff has one of the best around.

The historic pub sits above the River Avon, tucked beneath the spectacular Avoncliff Aqueduct, with a series of terraces tumbling down towards the water. Pints have been served here for centuries, and on a sunny afternoon there aren’t many nicer places to stop.

Our preferred way to get there is on foot. Follow the Kennet & Avon Canal out from Bradford-on-Avon towards Avoncliff and make The Cross Guns your reward along the way. It’s around a mile and a half from Bradford-on-Avon, and you can always hop on the train at Avoncliff if you don’t fancy walking back. There’s also a handy guide to a 4-mile (roughly 2-hour) walk that starts right here at Hartley Farm if you fancy it.

The pub is currently undergoing a longer-term restoration, so things are operating a little differently for 2026. The main kitchen remains closed while structural work is resolved, but food is being served from the terrace Shack, alongside local beers, ales and Iford cider.

Grab a drink, find a spot overlooking the river and give yourself absolutely no reason to hurry anywhere.

Best for: A sunny pint at the end of a walk.

Make a day of it

One of the things we love about this part of Wiltshire is how easy it is to combine good food with getting outside.

Start with breakfast or coffee here at Hartley Farm, pick up a few supplies from the Farm Shop, then head out towards Winsley, Bradford-on-Avon, Limpley Stoke or the Avon Valley for a walk – preferably with a good pub waiting somewhere along the way.

And if you discover another brilliant local while you’re exploring, we’d love to hear about it. We’re always happy to add another pub to the list.