A NEW pub has opened in Taunton town centre, run by the team behind a popular venue in a nearby village.
The pub is the creation of the team behind The Chapel at Cotford St Luke - a pub that was repurposed from an old church and has since become a regular social space for the villagers.
Owned by Steve and Tracey Elliott, this new rustic yet elegant bar is looking to "bring a bit of that local feel" by supporting a variety of local makers.
READ MORE: New bar and beer shop to open in Taunton town centre
READ MORE: Plans for new bar in former Jack Wills in Taunton
On its first official day of opening on November 21, owner Steve paid homage to "main man" builder, Dave Manning, who, with little help, has been working every day to help bring the The Chapel Tap to life.
Dave was handed the scissors to officially open the pub and even pull its first pint.
WATCH: The Chapel Tap opens as new permanent pub in Taunton:
After making someone a stout inside The Chapel Tap, Dave told the Somerset County Gazette about how much work it took to bring the pub to life.
Dave said: "It looks great. I have been in here for nine weeks, working every day to help get the place ready.
"I've not had one day off yet since I started. My first proper day off is next Saturday, and I'm only off as I'm going to my daughter's wedding."
Owner Steve Elliot explained why The Chapel Tap has opened in Taunton after an initial "trial" three weeks in the space at Christmas last year, in collaboration with Sheppy's.
Steve told the County Gazette: "We opened last year at Christmas and it was a bit of a trial with Sheppy's as a cider bar. We had some really nice feedback from the locals in Taunton and Cotford St Luke, where our main chapel pub is, so we thought, 'let's go for it full-time'.
"It's been a bit of a long journey in the year with getting planning permission, the appropriate licenses, and building. We would have liked to have been open a bit earlier, but here we are, this pub is permanent and will be open full time, hoping to bring some of the village pub magic to Taunton."
The pub has been created to "celebrate Somerset and the south west" in Taunton, but "won't try to compete with local late night bars", Steve says.
Steve added: "We want to create somewhere where people can come in, feel comfortable, relax, and enjoy local quality drinks.
"We're being supported hugely by Sheppy's, Utopia in Devon, Quantock Brewery, and others. There's very much a local feel here with spirits from Cheddar and gin from Dryad Gin in Somerset.
"There will be a small team of around two or three staff working at a time in here, hugely supported by the team at the Chapel.
"Most of the faces you see working here, you may recognise from the Chapel at Cotford St Luke, as we want to offer a level of hospitality that we already offer there.
"With regards to our opening hours, we're very centred around the people who are shopping in the day, people who are finishing work, and early evening hours. We're not going to be a late-opening pub, so our normal opening hours will be roughly 11am through till tea time and maybe 9pm at a push.
"We're not trying to compete with the other pubs in Taunton; we want to work with them and bring a local feel to the town."
You can find The Chapel Tap at 4 Fore Street in Taunton.
Share