The Whistling Duck Banwell has a brief history. The site of the building is shown on the Ordnance Survey 6" County Series Map dated 1900 as a Public House - "Smith's Arms". A local builder & developer discovered the old Somerset Cider House, long since disappeared, on the building site plans, and the new pub was built in the seventies. A competion for the best name was won by granddaughter of a local resident, and the pub was Christened - The Whistling Duck.

Opened as a freehouse, The Whistling Duck was a busy village pub for a number of years, until it was sold to the Bass & Company Brewery. Refurbished by Bass, the interior of the pub was rusticated in the manner of the then in vogue "Harvester Style" pubs; the carpets were replaced by stone flags complete with sawdust, not helping the general unattractiveness of the new austere décor.

This new interior layout was not successful and the pub continued to lose customers over a period of two to three years.

From the time Bass acquired the pub, the business never thrived. One or two tenants were exceptionally successful and moved elsewhere, but the legacy of the bad image remained. Bass eventually sold to one of the pub chains.

Refurbishment by Bass took place in the eighties. Following this a number of old customers never returned until they heard of new developments in 2005 (They could still remember, as quoted a number of times, "stone flags and sawdust").

A succession of short term tenants and pub chain temporary managers led to further decline until the pub was taken over in 2005.

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The Whistling Duck Banwell

2005

Re-established as an Italian Restaurant and Lounge Bar in October 2005 when Tim Collins, his wife Joi and son Luke, took over, the pub is now completely refurbished presenting a warm comfortable atmosphere. The décor of the restaurant and lounge bar has an attractive bistro-like theme, with deep sofas and armchairs in the lounge bar to relax in if you do not want to sit at the bar.

Seasons Restaurant

at

The Whistling Duck

The restaurant serves delicious food, freshly prepared on the premises, made from seasonal local produce. The variety available on the menus will suit most tastes, and includes a good selection of vegetarian dishes.

Lounge Bar & Restaurant
Photographs

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Ephemera

Whistling Duck Wine
Semillon Chardonnay South East Australia from Australia, South Eastern Australia.

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