Comfortable, with a friendly atmosphere, the Rising Sun benefits from licensees who approach their role more as a vocation than a job. Pleasantly busy without seeming crowded, the regulars are friendly and approachable - some are more akin to furniture than patrons, having been frequenting the place for more years than anyone cares to consider. The Rising Sun has a strong feeling of community; unlike many smaller village pubs, there is no antipathy towards new faces - anyone can drop in, order a pint of whatever catches their fancy, and sink into the amicable banter that commonly fills the bar.
Standards within The Rising Sun are unfailingly high. The rooms are always tidy, and John, the landlord, suffers from an almost-pathalogical need to keep the beer-pipes clean and clear. You'll never have cause to complain about a bad pint; certificates from both Cask Marque, and British Institute of Innkeeping offer assurance to all patrons that their food and drink will be of the very highest quality.
Please click here to review the opening hours.
The centre of The Rising Sun is undoubtedly its comfortable bar area, but a full half of the ground floor is partitioned off and given over to those who wish to eat their food at a table. Upstairs, there is a separate non-smoking function room; this normally operates as over-flow from the restaurant area downstairs, but can also be hired for special occasions.
On warmer days, many patrons choose to sit outside in the beer garden - a picturesque and truly pleasant location to enjoy one's pint.
The beautiful riverside garden lies upon the banks of the River Chew, beside the only moated church and churchyard in England. Overlooked by the impressive Pensford viaduct, the garden is steeped in history, and even contains the old mill structures that once took advantage of the millpond. Should you fancy a short walk after your meal, the garden opens up across a charming medieval footbridge into the rolling fields of Pensford Down - a perfect way to allow dinner to settle.
Whether you stop for a swift half on your way past, or decide to spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying the fine food and drink, you are guaranteed to find a warm welcome at The Rising Sun. Children are free to roam throughout the building - although most, on hot days, prefer to play down in the shallows of the river:
Dogs are welcome, provided they are kept under control - but they must understand that they play a very definite second-fiddle to Poppy, the inn cat.
All in all, the Rising Sun is a lovely place to spend an afternoon - but be warned; you might well find that your stay somehow eases on well into the evening...
Regular events at The Rising Sun include the darts evening, most Thursdays, and the Folk Club on a monday night. Other events happen throughout the year; The Rising Sun hosts everything from live music in the garden to Morris Dancers and barbershop quartets, and there is even some discussion about hosting a small motorbike show later this year. For detailed information about upcoming events, keep an eye on this site.