Our Story
Stay Original Co began life in 2011 with The Swan in Wedmore. We bought a semi-derelict pub dying on its feet and completely rebuilt it to become an award-winning coaching inn appealing to locals and travellers alike.
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We now have six properties, each with its very special character. Each place, even each super-stylish bedroom, is wholly unique! Our food and drink offerings are distinctive too. Walk into to any of our establishments and you will see we champion hyper-local produce.
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The success of The Swan spurred us on in the direction of The White Hart in Somerton, a neglected little jewel in need of a serious facelift and a serious budget. It’s now a multiple award-winner, loved by regulars and weekenders.
Our third project, Timbrell’s Yard in Bradford on Avon, opened in March 2015. This former riverside pub has 17 rooms, a sumptuous bar, plus a 100-cover restaurant and a club room for private parties. Within six months of opening, Timbrell’s Yard made it into the Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels.
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In November 2015 we acquired our fourth and biggest hotel to date, The King’s Arms in Dorchester, a regal building on the high street. Following a major refurbishment it opened in Sept 2020.
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The Grosvenor Arms in Shaftesbury arrived in 2016. Unlike our other pubs and hotels, this did not require complete refurbishment. With 16 stylish bedrooms, a buzzing bar and a large restaurant, it has seamlessly slotted into our portfolio. And finally, midway through 2022 we purchased At the Chapel in fashionable Bruton. This iconic restaurant with rooms in a former Chapel has a bakery and wine store as well – and is famous for kick-starting Bruton’s renaissance as a cultural hotspot.
For us, our biggest achievement has been building a fantastic team.
Building nice pubs and hotels was the easy bit. For us, our biggest achievement has been building a fantastic team, something that has been really important right from the beginning. ‘Stay Original’ applies not only to our buildings but also our people and we believe we have a tightly knit and highly professional bunch of characters running some amazing properties – many who have joined in junior positions and risen smoothly to the top.
