Last visit: April 2026

Hospitality has been dispensed on this spot since 1420, when a mill and coaching inn first opened beside the River Chew.

Back then it was The King’s Arms — a place where villagers brought their grist (corn) to be milled, travellers rested their horses, and the churchmen of Litton (whose Bishop owned the land) kept a watchful eye on the growing community.

Six centuries later, you can still feel the history: the thick stone walls, the low beams, the sense that this place has always looked after people.

By 2014, though, the old inn had fallen silent: it looked as though its long story might finally be ending.

Enter Sally Billington, who took on the derelict site and saw what others didn't. Over two years she stripped it back, re‑roofed it, reused original timbers, and stitched the old mill and inn together again.

The elm beams from the roof became the magnificent bar top; outbuildings were converted into swanky bedrooms; the gardens were re‑landscaped; a new courtyard was excavated. It was a resurrection in every sense — ambitious, sensitive, and rooted in respect for the building’s past.

When it reopened in 2017 as The Litton, it wasn’t a museum piece. It was something better: a place that honours its 15th‑century origins while feeling modern, imaginative, and alive.

You feel it immediately when you step inside.

The Whisky Bar — the 15th Century 'King's Arms' part of the building — still has its flagstones, fireplaces and low ceilings, and is now guarded (quite literally) by Eric the Knight in a full suit of armour who looks as though he’s been greeting travellers since the days when flour was still being ground near the river.

The main bar and dining room, by contrast, is bright, social and contemporary, with that long elm slab running the length of the counter and a mix of sofas, benches, pews and barrels that make it easy to settle in.

Outside, the River Chew - in truth more stream than torrent when we visited - is right there. The terraces wrap around the building, with fire pits, blankets, cushions, and a converted horsebox bar that comes into its own on summer evenings. It’s one of those rare pubs where the outdoor spaces feel as thoughtfully designed as the interiors.

The food is gorgeous, the rooms are stylish without being precious; and the whole place runs with a level of calm, award‑winning service that only comes from a stable, confident team.

It's only down the road for us, but my wife & I have stayed here a few times now, and each visit has the same reassuring rhythm: warm without performance, attentive without fuss, and delivered with the kind of consistency that makes you relax the moment you arrive. Thanks Ollie!

The Litton is the sort of place that works for everyone — locals, walkers, weekenders, food‑lovers, families, dogs, and anyone who simply wants to enjoy a wonderful pub that has been looking after people for more than 600 years.

A genuine treat, and a reminder that excellence comes in many forms.