The Longs Arms

Verdict

The Longs Arms is the kind of village pub that earns its Michelin Plate not by chasing trends but by doing traditional British cooking with real care and consistency. If you are driving through the Bradford-on-Avon area and want a proper hearty meal in a genuinely handsome setting, book here. At the ££ price point, it delivers honest value. The caveat: if you are looking for a tasting-menu occasion or ambitious modern British cooking, this is not that place; and it does not pretend to be.

About The Longs Arms

South Wraxall is the kind of Cotswolds-fringe village that most people pass through without stopping. The Longs Arms gives you a reason to stop. Set opposite a medieval church on the upper village road, this Bath stone pub has the kind of physical presence that photographs well but actually delivers in person; the stone walls, the low-ceilinged rooms, the sense that this building has been here considerably longer than most restaurants in any nearby city. It has held a Michelin Plate in both 2024 and 2025, a recognition that signals consistently good cooking rather than fine-dining ambition, that distinction matters when you are deciding whether to make the detour.

Chef-Owner Robert Allcock runs this as a family operation, which shows in the way the menu is assembled. You are not here to be surprised or challenged. The menu flirts with occasional creativity, there are moments where Allcock pushes the format slightly, but the spine of the offer is reassuringly traditional: fishcakes, sausage and mash, steak and kidney pie. These are dishes that require good sourcing and genuine technique to execute well, the Michelin recognition over consecutive years suggests they are being executed well here. The kitchen smells like a pub kitchen should: roasting meat, pastry, something sweet from the dessert section. For anyone returning after a first visit, the homemade ice creams are worth finishing on, the Michelin assessors specifically call them out, which is not something Michelin does lightly.

As a neighbourhood anchor, The Longs Arms carries weight beyond its food. South Wraxall has no high street, no cluster of restaurants competing for the same diner. This is the pub. The fact that it holds a Michelin Plate rather than coasting on geographic monopoly is a genuine mark in its favour. If you have been once and stuck to the obvious choices, the next visit is the time to work through the more creative edges of the menu while keeping one of the classics, the steak and kidney pie, specifically, as an anchor. The portions are described as hearty and the flavours as strong in the traditional sense: well-seasoned, properly made, not shy.

Booking logistics are simple. The Longs Arms sits in the easy-to-book tier, this is not a restaurant where you need to set a calendar reminder three months out. For a weekend lunch in the warmer months, a week or two of lead time is sensible, particularly if you want a specific table configuration or are arriving as a larger group. Weekday visits are more flexible. The address is Upper South Wraxall, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2SB, which puts it within comfortable reach of Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, the wider Wiltshire and Somerset countryside. If you are combining this with a broader trip to the region, pairing it with a night near Bath makes the detour direct rather than effortful.

For context on where The Longs Arms sits in the broader picture of destination British pub dining, it is useful to think about venues like the Hand and Flowers in Marlow, Tom Kerridge's two-Michelin-star pub that defines the upper ceiling of what British pub cooking can achieve, or the Pipe and Glass in South Dalton, another village pub with serious culinary credentials. The Longs Arms is not operating at that star level, but the Michelin Plate acknowledgement over two consecutive years means it is being taken seriously in the same conversation. For the price point and the setting, that represents good value for anyone in the area.

Repeat visitors are the backbone of a pub like this, a sustained 4.6 suggests the kitchen is consistent rather than occasionally brilliant. For a first-time visitor, that consistency is reassuring. For a returning diner, it means the standard you remember is likely to still be there.

If you are building a longer itinerary in the West Country and want to understand where The Longs Arms fits among the region's dining options, see our full South Wraxall restaurants guide. For accommodation near the village, the South Wraxall hotels guide covers your options. The South Wraxall bars guide, wineries guide, and experiences guide round out the picture if you are planning a full day or weekend in the area.

Ratings

• Michelin: Plate 2024, Plate 2025

Practical Details

The Longs Arms is at Upper South Wraxall, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 2SB. Price range is ££, making this one of the more accessible Michelin-recognised dining options in the region. Booking is direct, a week to two weeks ahead is sufficient for most visits, with slightly more lead time advisable for weekend lunch in summer. No booking method or hours are listed in our current data; check directly with the venue to confirm current opening days before travelling, particularly if making a special trip.

How It Compares

See the comparison section below for how The Longs Arms sits against other options depending on what you are looking for.

FAQ

How far ahead should I book The Longs Arms?

• Booking difficulty is low. A week to two weeks ahead covers most scenarios, including weekend visits.
• In summer, when the Cotswolds and Bath areas see higher visitor numbers, lean toward two weeks for Saturday lunch.
• Weekday bookings are typically more flexible. Walk-in availability may exist midweek, but calling ahead is always the safer approach for a village pub with limited covers.

What should I order at The Longs Arms?

• The Michelin assessors specifically highlight the steak and kidney pie, fishcakes, sausage and mash as the core of what this kitchen does well.
• On a return visit, explore the slightly more creative edges of the menu while keeping one classic as the anchor.
• For dessert, the homemade ice creams are called out by name in the Michelin recognition, that is a direct steer worth following.

Does The Longs Arms handle dietary restrictions?

• The menu skews traditional British with an extensive range, which typically means strong options for meat eaters but variable depth for plant-based or strict dietary requirements.
• Contact the venue directly before booking if you have specific dietary needs, no detailed allergen or dietary information is available in our current data.

Is The Longs Arms good for a special occasion?

• Yes, for a relaxed celebration rather than a formal one. The setting, Bath stone pub opposite a medieval church in a quiet village, is genuinely atmospheric.
• At ££, it is accessible enough that the occasion does not need to be a milestone to justify the trip.
• If you are after a formal tasting-menu occasion, look elsewhere. This is the right venue for a long, unhurried lunch with good food and a sense of place.

Is the tasting menu worth it at The Longs Arms?

• There is no tasting menu format here. The Longs Arms operates an à la carte menu built around traditional British pub dishes.
• If a tasting menu is the format you want in the region, venues like Gidleigh Park in Chagford or Midsummer House in Cambridge are better fits, at a higher price point.

Is The Longs Arms worth the price?

• At ££ with two consecutive Michelin Plates, yes. You are getting Michelin-recognised cooking at pub pricing, which is a combination that is hard to argue.
• For comparison, venues like hide and fox in Saltwood or the Pipe and Glass in South Dalton operate in a similar pub-with-credentials tier but at different price points and in different regions.
• If you are already in the Bradford-on-Avon or Bath area, the value case is direct.

What are alternatives to The Longs Arms in South Wraxall?

• South Wraxall itself has no direct alternatives at this quality level, The Longs Arms is the anchor here.
• For the wider region, Bath offers numerous options across price tiers. For destination pub dining in the UK more broadly, the Hand and Flowers in Marlow sets the benchmark at the top of the category.
• See our full South Wraxall restaurants guide for a broader view of what is available in the area.

Pearl Picks, If You Are Exploring Further

• Waterside Inn, Bray, Three Michelin stars, Thames-side setting, the formal occasion version of a country escape
• L'Enclume, Cartmel, Simon Rogan's flagship, for when you want the full destination-dining experience in a village setting
• Moor Hall, Aughton, Another country-house restaurant with serious credentials, useful comparison for calibrating ambition levels
• Ynyshir Hall, Machynlleth, The more adventurous, boundary-pushing end of destination dining in the UK
• Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Auchterarder, Scotland's answer to the country-house dining occasion
• Opheem, Birmingham, For a different register entirely: Michelin-starred Indian cooking in the Midlands
• Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Dubai, Traditional British cooking rethought at the luxury end of the spectrum