Wheatsheaf Inn

The Wheatsheaf Inn briefly opened its doors to revealed its beams and flagstones to invited guests on Wednesday evening. The special gathering followed the granting of planning permission for the proposed conservatory restaurant, smokery and smokery shop. Jonathan and Alison with their son George and daughter Jemima and their Valley Smokery colleagues, provided a buffet, which was a stunning glimpse of what will be on offer when their project is completed and the Wheatsheaf Inn finally re-opens its doors for business.

Jonathan trained as an apprentice chef at Hunstrete House, has worked at, amongst other places, Ston Easton Park and the American Ambassador’s residence in London, before making his reputation with his Valley Smokery, products from which many of us have tried.

Jonathan and Alison's passion for local and West Country ingredients was clearly evident, as well as Jonathan's keen interest in real ales from our local brewers and micro-brewers. The Wheatsheaf Inn, when it re-opens, will finally be a 'free house', allowing Jonathan and Alison as 'mine hosts', to present the best available beers, ales and ciders, as well as wines and spirits, to compliment, what will now be their much anticipated menu.

A lot of work has been done, which at times must have led many villagers, and probably Jonathan and Alison, to wonder if it would ever progress. Much, more remains to be done to complete their project and to bring the Wheatsheaf Inn back to life as our Allerton villages inn. To not only retrieve the wider reputation it once held, in the hands of the late Ian Wiggington but to take the reputation on to a whole new level, more fitting to the 21^st Century customer and lifestyle.