The Artisan in Frome, formerly known as The Ship has closed post Easter for a complete refurbishment.

And the pub, which is at the top of Catherine Hill in Frome is reportedly coming back with a new special kitchen offering from the chef team who were at The Griffin.

The local food reporter's blog, the Wallfish Journal, has said that couple responsible for some great food at The Griffin will be moving across to make the most of a bigger kitchen and bringing with them their famed burgers and fried wings.

The Artisan was formerly the Olive Tree, which was fully refurbished in 2015. Officially the address is at 6 Christchurch Street West. It was recorded as being The Ship Inn, at Badcox, in 1851 but was probably built in the 1600s and according to a census in 1785, the landlord of an inn called The Ship and on Badcox Lane, was a NEWPORT, Samuel.

 Frome may seem to have a lot of pubs, but today there are only a handful compared to the 18th Century when there were a total of forty three pubs.

As to the oldest ? Well that is a matter of debate, the Angel might well qualify (the Archangel now) it is suggested that its origins are of the 14th century: certainly it is absolutely in the right place for an old inn: it is also of the right kind of size and layout, but the fabric has been so remodelled over the years that there remain only a few 18th century fragments, possibly including the gates to the throughway.