The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant Hotel Wells, Wells ➤ Reviews, Rooms & Prices 2025

Book on our site

Up to 10% cheaper

than Booking.com

Key details

About the Hotel

20 Sadler Street, Wells, United Kingdom, BA5 2FE

The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant is a family-run hotel and restaurant featuring authentic Italian cuisine and a historic setting facing the famous west front of Wells Cathedral. This 3-star Wells hotel offers free WiFi, a bar, and a garden area.

Rooms & Amenities

Guestrooms at The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant include premium bedding, a digital TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. Some rooms provide views of Wells Cathedral and convenient en-suite shower rooms.

Dining Options

The on-site Rugantino Restaurant specializes in authentic Italian cuisine, serving both traditional English table dhôte menus and hearty meals. A bar area is available for guests to enjoy drinks.

Leisure & Local Area

The hotel features a terrace and a garden for guests to relax and explore. The Ancient Gatehouse & Rugantino Restaurant is located near the historic market place and offers easy access to various attractions.

Services & Attractions

Services at The Ancient Gatehouse include dry cleaning and multilingual staff assistance. The hotel is well-positioned for discovering Somerset's historic beauty spots, with nearby attractions like Wells Cathedral and Wookey Hole Caves.

View all

Select your room type

The hotel offers a variety of rooms including double rooms, family rooms, and suites with breakfast, free cancelations, and special deals

Superior King Room

Max:

2 persons

14 m²

Bed options:

1 Double bed

Landscape view

Heating

Bathtub

room details

Check Prices

Classic Single Room

Max:

1 person

10 m²

Bed options:

1 Single bed

Landscape view

Shower

Heating

room details

Check Prices

Double Room

Max:

2 persons

8 m²

Bed options:

1 Double bed

Landscape view

Shower

Heating

room details

Check Prices

Show all roomsLess

Price and Room Availability Calendar

Check availability and prices for your dates now!

Getting around

A list of all available modes of transport

City Center

Wells700 ft

Airports

Bristol (BRS) 19.1 mi

Bournemouth (BOH) 56.9 mi

Bus

Bus stop 5.5 mi

Facilities

The hotel offers amenities for your comfortable stay and unforgettable experiences

Stunning Views!

“My attic room offered amazing views of the cathedral, creating an lovely ambiance during my stay.” view full review

Delicious Breakfast!

“Breakfast had a fantastic variety with fresh options, and the warm service made the experience even better.” view full review

Private and Cozy!

“The ensuite bathroom was a good surprise with all the essentials I needed for a comfortable stay.” view full review

Charming Atmosphere!

“The building's quirky charm added a unique character to the living space, making my stay feel special.” view full review

General

No smoking on site
Wi-Fi
Parking
Safe deposit box
VIP check-in/ -out
Express check-in/ -out
Pets allowed
Baggage storage
Coffee shop
Key access

Sports & Fitness

Golf course

Guest Parking

Electric kettle

Services

Room service
Housekeeping

Dining

Restaurant
Bar/ Lounge area
Packed lunches
Special diet menus

Business

Fax/Photocopying

Spa & Leisure

Sun terrace
Garden area

Room features

Heating
Terrace
Garden furniture
Tea and coffee facilities
Ironing facilities

Bathroom

Free toiletries

Self-catering

Electric kettle

Media

AM/FM alarm clock

Room decor

Carpeted floor

Location

20 Sadler Street, Wells, United Kingdom, BA5 2FE

Map view

20 Sadler Street, Wells, United Kingdom, BA5 2FE

City landmarks

Cave

Wookey Hole Caves

1.6 mi

38 Market Street

Wells Artisan Quarter

2300 ft

Garden

Milton Lodge Gardens

5000 ft

Cemetery

Mendip Hospital Cemetery

1.1 mi

Milton Lodge

4800 ft

Pen Hill

2.1 mi

Ebbor Lane

Ebbor Gorge

2.3 mi

Store

Wells Reclamation Co

2.3 mi

Nearby

Church

Wells Cathedral

900 ft

Wells BA5 2PD

The Bishop's Palace and Gardens

1700 ft

Museums

Wells and Mendip Museum

600 ft

Vicar's Close Street

Vicar's Close

1200 ft

Gallery

A2 Gallery

1100 ft

Wells Market Place

600 ft

Church

St Cuthbert's parish Church

1600 ft

Libraries

Wells

800 ft

St Andrew St s/n Wells BA5 2UE

Scissor Arches

100 ft

Wells BA5 1US

The Bishop's Barn

1700 ft

Cathedral Green s/n Wells BA5 2UE

West Front

500 ft

1 Cathedral Green

Wells Cathedral Music School

700 ft

1 Vicar's Cl

Vicar's Chapel & Library

1200 ft

Parks

Wells Recreation Ground

1600 ft

Restaurants

Great Shakes

400 ft

10 Heritage Courtyard Sadler Street

West Cornwall Pasty Company Wells

500 ft

1A Sadler Street Market Place

Kitty Banks

700 ft

15 Market Place

Costa Coffee

700 ft

16 High Street

Daniels Sandwich Bar and Cafe

1400 ft

5 Queen Street

Bar Italia

1300 ft

14 Broad Street

Just Ales

1600 ft

38 Market Street

The Quarter Jack

2000 ft

18 Priory Road

Ram's Kebab

2000 ft

Princes Road

Reviews and Ratings

Feedback from previous guests about their experience.

76%

liked the hotel and would stay again

7.6/10

Very good

Rooms

7.0

Location

8.7

Service

8.3

Dining

7.0

3.5/5 based on 285 reviews

#4 of 4 hotels in Wells based on Tripadvisor

Jacqueline

United Kingdom, October 2023

7.8/10

The hotel has a fabulous view of the cathedral, but the rooms need a little sprucing up with faded carpets and fabrics. However, despite this, I would still choose to stay here overlooking the main busy street.

Rooms

7.0

The room, which is at the top of an ancient stone spiral staircase, offers a fabulous view of the cathedral, but you can only see it by standing on the staircase and looking through a grimy window.

Service

8.0

The staff were amazing and extremely helpful. However, they could do with learning some charm skills.

Location

9.0

The location was amazing, right in the heart of Wells, with excellent views of the cathedral from the beer garden at the back of the hotel.

Dining

7.0

The dining experience was good, although the restaurant was currently available, and the local jams were a nice touch.

Facilities

8.0

The hotel is ideally situated for sightseeing in Wells and a trip to Cheddar Gorge, and the central marketplace is just a few hundred yards away.

David

United Kingdom, October 2023

7.4/10

The hotel has a central location by Wells Cathedral, with very helpful and positive staff. The rooms are comfortable and clean, but some issues with requested and booked twin bedded room reservations. The dining experience is only OK, and the Wi-Fi is not complimentary.

Rooms

7.0

The rooms were comfortable and clean, but there were issues with requested and booked twin bedded rooms.

Service

8.0

The staff was very helpful and positive, but there were some off-hand interactions.

Location

9.0

The hotel is excellently located by Wells Cathedral, with helpful staff. It's a great spot for visiting Wells, but do request a quiet room.

Dining

6.0

The dining experience is only OK, with room service available in the rooms.

Facilities

7.0

The facilities meet basic needs and come at a fair price.

Paul

United Kingdom, September 2023

7.8/10

Despite being assigned what seemed like the least desirable room in the old gatehouse, with a gloomy ambiance and a view of the cathedral at the back, my stay had its ups and downs. The staff went out of their way to make my son's 22nd birthday special and provided attentive service. The location was ideal for exploring Wells, while the dining experience was of a high standard. However, there were some awkward moments during check-in, and the steep stairs were a bit of a hassle.

Rooms

7.0

The room I stayed in was in the old gatehouse, which seemed like an unwanted choice, but it was clean and comfortable despite being gloomy.

Service

9.0

The staff were very accommodating, especially for my son's birthday, and their attentiveness made the stay more enjoyable.

Location

8.0

The hotel's location was perfect for a short stay in Wells, offering easy access to the Abbey, city center, and a view of the cathedral square.

Dining

8.0

The dining experience was very good, with well-cooked meals and excellent service, although the breakfast timing caused a small confusion.