The Woodford Lodge

At Woodford Lodge the day begins with mist rising off Chew Valley Lake and sourdough turning golden in the open kitchen. You can taste that dawn calm in every dish: perch landed metres away, vegetables lifted from Mendip soil at first light, coffee roasted by a neighbour who knows each bean by scent. Big windows frame shifting clouds like living artwork, while friendly chatter drifts between cyclists, bird‑watchers, and couples lingering over just‑baked pastries. It feels less like a restaurant visit and more like being welcomed into a lakeside home where the pantry is always full. Community is stitched into the Lodge’s timber beams. Local carpenters shaped the tables from fallen oak, school art clubs painted the shoreline murals, and weekend markets on the terrace let small makers share their jams and jewellery with passing walkers. Chef‑owners Anna and Tom keep the menu seasonal and sincere—think thyme‑butter trout, beetroot‑risotto blushing pink, and elderflower‑kissed panna cotta that mirrors the water’s ripple. Every plate tells a nearby story, reminding guests that good food tastes even better when it speaks the dialect of its landscape.