8.3

1,077 reviews

The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

20 Sadler St, Bath, BA5 2SE, United Kingdom

Choose dates to view prices

Restaurant

Free wifi

Room service

Bar

Sun deck

Terrace

Non-smoking rooms

Landmark view

The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant is an inviting inn in Wells, United Kingdom. Located at 20 Sadler St, it sits just 0.2mi from the city center, placing sights and strolls within easy reach. Featured amenities include a restaurant, free WiFi, room service, a Bar, sun deck, terrace, non-smoking rooms, a garden, and landmark views. Parking (extra charges) and a golf course (extra charges) are available, along with a bathtub and free toiletries for added convenience.

Rates start from $79, inviting travelers to enjoy Wells without breaking the bank. The property has 1,077 reviews, reflecting a steady chorus of guest impressions.

Relax on the sun deck or terrace, enjoy the garden ambiance, and savor meals at Rugantino Restaurant, all while taking in a landmark view. Free toiletries and a bathtub add a touch of comfort after days of exploration, with free WiFi keeping connectivity on hand.

Rugantino Restaurant brings Italian classics to life in a traditional setting, right on site at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant. Dining here means savoring authentic flavors while taking in a landmark view, a pairing that lets Wells’ character shine with every bite.

Relaxation comes easy on the sun deck, terrace, or in the garden, each offering a different slice of the same inviting scenery. After a day of wandering, a bathtub and free toiletries provide a welcome refresh, and free WiFi keeps devices connected for planning the next adventure.

Practicalities include parking (extra charges) and a nearby golf course available for an added fee. Payment options cover cash and major cards—American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. On-site amenities include a Bar and room service, along with non-smoking rooms for guest comfort.

Closest airports

Bristol Airport

12.3mi

Cardiff Airport

32.8mi

Bournemouth Airport

45.9mi

Exeter Airport

46.9mi

Southampton / Weather Centre

58.8mi

Most popular amenities

Restaurant

Free wifi

Room service

Bar

Sun deck

Terrace

Non-smoking rooms

Landmark view

Garden

Bathtub

Free toiletries

Rooms

Superior Double Room with Cathedral View in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Superior, Cathedral View

1 Double Bed

150 sqft

Landmark view

Private Bathroom

Bathtub

Free toiletries

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Double Room with Four-Poster Bed in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Standard Room

1 Double Bed

85 sqft

Landmark view

Private Bathroom

Shower

Free toiletries

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Classic Double or Twin Room in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Classic

1 Double Bed

2 Twin Beds

140 sqft

Private Bathroom

Shower

Free toiletries

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Deluxe Double Room in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Deluxe Double Room

1 Queen Size Bed

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Double Room with Four-Poster Bed and Cathedral View in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Double Room, Cathedral View

1 Queen Size Bed

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Classic Single Room with Cathedral View in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

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Classic, Single, Cathedral View

1 Twin Bed

110 sqft

Landmark view

Private Bathroom

Shower

Free toiletries

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Deluxe Double Room with Cathedral View in The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

Deluxe, Cathedral View

1 Queen Size Bed

150 sqft

Landmark view

Private Bathroom

Tea/Coffee maker

Shower

+

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Classic, Doubleortwin

1 Double Bed

Flat-screen TV

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Classic, Cathedral View

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Queen Room

1 Queen Size Bed

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Single Room

1 Twin Bed

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Room - 2 Double

2 Double Beds

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Guest reviews

8.3

1,077 reviews

Categories of assessments

Cleanliness

Comfort

Location

Facilities

Staff

Value for money

WiFi quality

Featured reviews:

🇬🇧

Malcolm

10

May 2025

Everything! The Ancient Gatehouse had fabulous character . The room was nice and clean, great for our stay. Plenty of tea / coffee provided on the tray in the room. Staff were excellent and very friendly. We were given info on where to park prior to our stay and also at reception on our arrival. and were able to get a space both nights near the Cathedral green which was great. We had booked a meal in the restaurant and were not disappointed, it was really lovely , presented well and very tasty and a good price. Breakfast was great too, plenty of cereal and hot breakfast choices which were tasty and well presented. We can only apologise again for you having to ask us for the payment of this as we had forgotten it was separate to our booking made with booking.com. We were hurrying out trying to beat the 10 am parking timeline.! Not trying to avoid payment! Very embarrassing 😳 We would definitely recommend this hotel for all the above. Thank you to all the staff

Not applicable

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Central

8.2

May 2025

Friendly, competent staff. Comfortable room and bed. Excellent breakfast. Perfect location for sight-seeing, shopping, dining, more. VERY affordable (both room and food).

Room could use some attention here and there (carpet stains, peeling wallpaper in bath). Room access might be difficult (EXTREMELY steep stairs) for some but this is noted in the description and I was able to cope. (Staff took bag up and brought down making it much easier.) Window looked/opened out onto village green with a view of the cathedral which while beautiful, there were people running about and shouting even at 3 AM which was a little disruptive.

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Lucifer

10

September 2024

Beautiful historic building in a convenient location overlooking the magnificent cathedral. The rooms were extremely comfortable and beautifully presented with all the amenities you need. Rugantino's restaurant serves amazing, well presented food served by a professional but friendly team who made you feel like you were their number one priority. The breakfast was outstanding cooked to perfection made with fresh ingredients and enough to set you up for the day.

I can't think of anything.The whole experience at the Ancient Gatehouse and Rugantino's restaurant has been exceptional. Andy, Nicky, and Antonio are an amazing team who work very well together to make your experience one you'll never forget.

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Stuart

10

December 2024

The Ancient Gatehouse is a quirky, superb, piece of history. Much of this ancient building is not accessible to anyone with mobility issues but they warn people well in advance of this. The room we stayed in was up a narrow, twisting stair, right at the top of the building. The room itself was large and comfortable. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. Loads of useful information was sent prior to our stay - where to park, etc.

I appreciate this is an old, probably listed, building and must be protected but perhaps secondary double glazing? The room faced onto the road and the noise of passing traffic was quite loud.

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Fairhead

8.2

September 2024

We stayed in room 2, which has a four-poster bed. There is a large window onto Sadler St with a window seat underneath. A great place to watch the world go by or to sit and read. The on-suite bathroom was clean and the shower powerful and effective. although the shower could do with a place to put toiletries. The bed was comfortable and the bed linen was good quality. Bottled water, tea and coffee making facilities were replenished everyday. The Old Gatehouse is right on the cathedral square with access through the breakfast area of the dinning room. There is seating outside on a grass area overlooking the square but the seating and tables are removed into storage on evenings when the restaurant is not open (Tuesday and Wednesday). We arrived on a Monday so booked for the restaurant Rugantino that night. We loved it, the ambience, the service and the food, just brilliant! We tried other top rated trip advisor restaurants on the Tuesday and Wednesday and they don't even come close.

Getting to the rooms is a little tricky if you are carrying heavy or bulky luggage with very narrow and step stairways, but the building is old so there is probably very little that can be done. We had an issue with the hot water on the last night where no hot water (not even cold) was coming from the tap or shower. As it was a Wednesday evening there was no one on reception so we called the out of hours number. It was answered quickly and with the promise of someone attending shortly. We were on our way out so left it at that. On our return after eating the water was at least running but still not coming out hot. At check out we mentioned to the receptionist the problem and she was extremely apologetic and she did offer us a chance to hot shower in another room.

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Charles

10

January 2025

Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. A very warm, cheery welcome from Nicky, as previously. Everything explained clearly. Extremely accommodating. The room was exceptional - small, cosy, but with everything I needed. Wonderful view across the cathedral green. High standards of cleanliness. Very comfortable bed with high quality bedding. Bathroom spacious, basic but all I needed, again, with a lovely view to the cathedral. I would highly recommend this hotel. Thank you to all the staff, especially Nicky, for making my short stay so memorable.

Nothing

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Alan

9.1

October 2024

The room was exactly as described. My room was at the back of the property which meant that it was away from any street noise and extremely quiet. The room was very clean and tidy with all the expected facilities. The bed was really comfortable and the bed linen was crisp which gave a good impression of the attention to detail by the proprietor. The staff that I came into contact with were polite and friendly and eager to help with any queries.

The room whilst comfortable and clean could do with being freshened up. The plug socket for the t.v. and the kettle were both on the same wall socket using an old fashioned double adapter which should really be replaced with a new wall mounted double switchable socket. The t.v. was sitting on a shelf inside the old fireplace and should probably have been fixed to a wall or set up on a more appropriate cupboard. The remote control was difficult to use and had seen better days. There was a bath but no wall mounted shower which I would prefer however there was a hand held shower head.

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Sarah

10

September 2024

The location was perfect, overlooking the cathedral green and two minutes from the market and shopping. The hotel retains the feel of its age but with modern and pristinely clean facilities (including superb water pressure - rare in any hotel, but especially in such an ancient building). The food in the restaurant is excellent and the service friendly and efficient - but, unusually for such a busy city centre location, we were able to sit over our meal without being pressured to finish and vacate, so we were able fully to enjoy the warm evening and the view of the cathedral across the green. Although the hotel has no parking, very helpfully, they emailed well in advance with suggested parking options with postcodes and estimated costs.

Nothing

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Jones

10

July 2024

The hotel is altogether charming and the staff is jovial and attentive. We had a marvelous view of beautiful Wells Cathedral. The food is outstanding—traditional English breakfast served to order and authentic gourmet Italian food in the evening. The hotel is very old and a bit quirky, which is part of its charm. We would definitely stay there again.

This is not a complaint but a heads up—anyone with accessibility challenges should discuss them with the desk staff before booking. The stairs to some of the most charming rooms are quite steep!

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Marilyn

8.2

August 2024

A lovely ancient (but tastefully modernised) building - a fabulous restaurant in a perfect setting with a small hotel above. I had a lovely spacious single room and shower room in the roof with the most fabulous view across the green to the Cathedral. Sunrise was spectacular! For a single room it was surprisingly spacious and airy with a really comfortable bed with all facilities, including some quirky electrical instructions!

Because I’m an older person, with arthritis, I knew the stairs up to my room may well be a challenge (the description was very clear about this)and they were a bit, as they were very steep (but thankfully a short flight). However the staff were only too happy to drop everything and take my case up on arrival and down on leaving! The rest of the time I used the handrails and was fine. But I chose to take the challenge and anyone with any doubt may wish to take heed of the warnings. The hotel restaurant and the bar are closed on a Tuesday and Wednesday, but the kitchen is open for breakfast.

Points of Interest Around The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

Attractions

Glastonbury

4.9mi

Cheddar Gorge

7.3mi

Smoke & Mirrors

16.9mi

Roman Baths

17.1mi

Royal Crescent

17.1mi

Jane Austen Centre

17.2mi

Lacock

26.9mi

Penarth

27.4mi

Norwegian Church Arts Centre

28.3mi

Techniquest

28.5mi

Cardiff Castle (Castell Caerdydd)

29.6mi

Principality Stadium (Millennium Stadium)

29.7mi

Barry Island (Ynys y Barri)

29.7mi

Cardiff City Hall (Neuadd y Ddinas)

29.8mi

Wiltshire Museum

29.9mi

Restaurants

Rugantino

Cuisines

  • Italian

Ambiances

  • Traditional

Amenities of The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

Restaurant

Free wifi

Room service

Bar

Sun deck

Terrace

Non-smoking rooms

Landmark view

Garden

Bathtub

Free toiletries

Stay rules - The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

  • Check-in / Check-out

  • Pets

  • Internet

  • Age restrictions

  • Parking

  • Children and beds

  • Cards accepted at this property

Frequently Asked Questions - The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant

Does The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant have accommodations for guests with pets?

Yes, you can stay with your pet at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant. However, it is important to note that prior approval is required and there may be additional charges for accommodating your pet.

When are the check-in and check-out times for The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant?

The designated check-in period at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant begins at 02:00 PM. As for check-out, it's before 11:00 AM.

Is there parking available at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant?

Yes, there is parking available at the hotel. However, please note that parking charges may apply and reservation is not possible. The parking is located at a nearby public parking location.

What are the rates at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant?

The entry-level price at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant is $79. These rates are subject to change based on room selection and travel dates. Kindly input your dates to view current rates.

What types of rooms does The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant offer?

The hotel offers a variety of room types including Superior Double Rooms with Cathedral View, Deluxe Double Rooms, Double Rooms with Four-Poster Beds, Classic Double or Twin Rooms, and Classic Single Rooms with Cathedral View. The rooms can accommodate 1-2 adults and some can accommodate 1 child. Smoking is not allowed in any of the rooms. Bed sizes range from a double bed to a queen size bed, and the room sizes vary from 86 sqft to 151 sqft.

How can guests spend their time at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant?

At The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant, guests can enjoy a variety of leisure amenities. They can spend their time playing golf on the hotel's golf course, which provides a great opportunity for outdoor recreation. Additionally, guests can relax and unwind at the hotel's bar, where they can enjoy a refreshing drink and socialize with other guests.

For those who prefer to soak up the sun, the hotel features a sun deck, where guests can relax and enjoy the warm weather.

In terms of dining options, the hotel offers a restaurant called Rugantino. This Italian restaurant provides a traditional ambiance and serves authentic Italian cuisine. Guests can indulge in a delicious meal, experience the flavors of Italy, and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant.

Overall, The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant offers a range of leisure amenities and dining options, allowing guests to have a pleasant and enjoyable stay.

Are there restaurants located within The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant?

Yes, the hotel has a restaurant called Rugantino on site. The restaurant offers traditional ambiance and serves Italian cuisine.

Does The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant accept credit cards and cash payments?

Yes, The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant accepts both credit cards, including Visa, American Express, and Mastercard, as well as cash payments.