The Clockspire is a restaurant and bar in the quaint Somerset village of Millborne Port, just a few kilometres from the border of Wiltshire. This beautiful old building was originally built by Sir William Medlycott in 1864 as a school, but it has been faithfully restored and is now home to this cosy, elegant restaurant.
Inside, the towering ceilings create a bright, airy, spacious vibe. The dining room blends renovated period features with a new, modern interior, combining expose stone walls and polished concrete flooring with the natural oak wood beams. A series of large candle chandeliers hang from the high ceiling, whilst huge windows provide ample natural light.
Food at The Clockspire leans heavily into seasonality, and the team has worked hard to create a strong network of local producers. The kitchen is lead by Luke Sutton, formerly of L'Ortolan in Reading and The Woodspeen, and he has curated a menu that takes inspiration from classic British and European flavours. The menu kicks off with starters like Barbers cheddar custard with cider and seaweed, and Cornish mackerel with pickled turnip, horseradish, buttermilk and dill, before heading into a selection of mains that show off a solid understanding of classic flavours - Creedy Carver chicken with celeriac puree, black cabbage, IPA shallot and English pecorino, Cornish sea bass with white beans, real cure chorizo and shellfish sauce, and a pork loin to share with barbecue broccoli and wet polenta.
Desserts take an interesting turn, really embracing the wild food available in this part of the country - treacle tart with rowan ice cream, for example, or sorrel sorbet with meringue pie.
Meanwhile, the marble-topped bar sits on a mezzanine level, overlooking the restaurant. It's a great spot to enjoy an extensive wine list that features bottles from all over the world, as well as fizz, beer, cider, cocktails, spirits and more.