A warm welcome

THE CANDLELIGHT holds a special place in Maddie & Ben’s story, it’s where they first met, long before either imagined they’d one day be running pubs of their own. Years later, when the chance came to take on the pub, it felt less like a business decision and more like coming full circle.

Together, they set out with a simple belief: that a great pub should feel welcoming, relaxed and part of everyday life, somewhere people gather naturally, whether for a quick pint, a midweek supper or a long, easy evening with friends.

Nothing expresses this ethos more clearly than a visit to Maddie & Ben’s sister pub, the multi-award-winning Cotley Inn in nearby Wambrook, a destination pub with rooms, celebrated for its food and its deep respect for British produce.

THE CANDLELIGHT is the Cotley’s sibling, not quite a twin, but unmistakably family. A proper pub first and foremost with a focus on exceptional bar snacks, well-kept beers, comforting pub classics and legendary Sunday roast sharing platters.

A man in a black puffer jacket and a woman in a white dress and jacket standing outside near a vintage green jeep or truck on a cloudy day.

“We want to share our passion for The Great British pub with all our guests. It is our pleasure to serve our immediate locals and wider community and we are always so excited to welcome those from a little further afield”

- Maddie & Ben

Locally Sourced
Produce

Good pubs start with good ingredients. Our menus draw from the farms, producers and suppliers around us, celebrating the best of the seasons and the countryside we’re lucky to call home.

Whether it’s fresh vegetables, locally raised meat or well-kept beers, the focus is always on quality without fuss, honest food and drink, thoughtfully prepared and served generously.

At the Candlelight, food is comforting, familiar and just a little bit special. Exceptional bar snacks, proper pub classics and seasonal dishes designed to suit both a quick bite at the bar and a relaxed meal with friends.

It’s food that fits the pub, warm, unfussy and full of flavour. The kind of cooking that makes you want to stay for pudding, or order one more round before heading home.

A plate of Irish stew with a large, cooked meat portion, green beans, onions, and carrots, served with brown gravy, on a wooden table. A glass of amber-colored drink is beside the plate.

Our team

Hospitality, to us, is about people. Many of our team are local faces, and together they create the atmosphere that makes the pub feel welcoming from the moment you step through the door.

Jasper, our resident Labrador and keeper of the Candlelight spirit, sums it up rather well, loyal, warm and always pleased to see you. Just like the pub, he reminds us that the best welcome is always the simplest one.

A man and woman walk a black dog on a grassy field, engaging in conversation on a cloudy day.

Driven by passion

Everything we do comes back to how a pub makes you feel. Fires lit on cold days, a friendly face behind the bar, a table you don’t want to leave, and the easy hum of conversation carrying late into the evening.
The Candlelight and The Cotley may offer different experiences, but they share the same heart, places where guests feel less like customers and more like friends we’re genuinely glad to see.
And whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, the aim is always the same: good food, good company and a warm welcome waiting whenever you arrive.

A rustic restaurant table set with wine glasses, a candle, and cutlery, with a stone wall in the background.

The Food

We’re immensely proud of our kitchen team, our commitment to a very local menu and our own produce, not only because it means we support our local suppliers, but also that we can be 100% honest about the origin of our ingredients.