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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
