A chat with Garry Medcalf owner of The Muddled Man Inn

In the 1800s, the building became a cider house and was called ‘The New Inn’. Finally, in 1890, ‘The New Inn’ became a fully licenced pub, run by the Saunders family.

After the Saunders family changed the name to the Salamander (named after a local point-to-point racehorse), they decided the pub needed another name change in the 1970s.

At this time the landlord’s wife was in hospital, leaving him to run the pub and look after their young family, but as she did the bookwork, he would take the books for her to look through in hospital.

On one occasion he dropped the paperwork all over the hospital floor, exclaiming that he was such a muddled man.

A passing nurse heard his remark and suggested that ‘The Muddled Man’ would be a great idea for a pub name, as most of the men she knew were always a little muddled when they had a little too much to drink.

Since then, the pub has been known as The Muddled Man Inn.

The present Landlords are the Medcalf family including Garry, with Mother Jean and Father Mick, who have been running the pub for nearly 20 years.

This gorgeous traditional country pub sits in the heart of West Chinnock, Crewkerne. Serving honest food with community spirit at its heart, this pub is the place to be.

There is a function room that can accommodate up to 80 people and owner, Garry Medcalf, is always willing to accommodate for any event taking place.

The Muddled Man Inn will not only host many community events, they will do all the planning for you – so you don’t have to.

The Somerset Ramblers Association have been visiting this pub and using the function room for over ten years – so you know it’s a worthy place to visit.

There is also a beautiful garden at the front of the pub, which catches the sun all day long, so you will always find somewhere to sit in the sunshine.

If you are feeling peckish, The Muddled Man also offers delicious traditional dishes, such as its renowned steaks and glorious Sunday roast.

The roast is always cooked fresh, using local ingredients, with the roasting joints put in the oven at 7am that morning.

As a community-led pub, supporting local is so important. Garry uses local ingredients in all the dishes and this country pub has daily deliveries of fresh ingredients.

It is not just the food that is local, local brewers are so important to Garry.

At the Muddled Man they serve 12 West Country ales on their three handpumps and Garry knows every single one of the brewers personally and so is an expert in answering questions about the beers they sell.

If you are more of a spirits-lover, The Muddled Man Inn also stock over 50 Malt Whisky’s and more than 12 different types of gin.

Sticking to their local roots, Newton House Gin is a popular addition to the list and is brewed just outside Yeovil.

The Muddled Man are also have a VE Day Street Party on May 8 2020, so make sure to pop along.

So, if you fancy something different, then take a trip to Crewkerne and visit The Muddled Man Inn, enjoy some honest and delicious food and some top quality local ales.

For more information visit themuddledmaninn.co.uk or call 01935881235.