The historical background of the gorge is quite fascinating and just as a small snapshot the gorge is on the edge of the Mendip Hills formed over millions of years by water based erosion through the local limestone. The River Yeo which created this erosion is now a subterranean waterway in the area and its continued action after carving out the gorge has continued to create the fantastic network of caves that millions of people visit every year. It is in these caves that the remains of Britain’s oldest complete skeleton nicknamed 9000 year old Cheddar Man were found. The gorge itself was discovered in the 1800s and through a variety of landlords and gentry the development of the village has evolved.

Our hotel was originally a Mill owned by the Cox family who towards the turn of the century turned it into a hotel, in the following hundred years it went through a variety of changes until 1990 when a lot of the restoration work was progressed and it reopened as The Gorge Hotel. Cox’s Mill is now owned by Longleat Estates who made the decision to return it to its present name as a tribute to the Cox family.

We have spent the last seven years developing the large lower room into a comfortable family restaurant emphasising many of the original features and have upgraded the first floor accommodation to modern standards. The downstairs bar opens out on to an outdoor terrace area with wonderful views of the waterfall that is so much a feature of the old watermill position.