The George Inn and The Fleur de Lys, in Norton St Philip, star alongside Mark Addy and Martin Clunes in Mother's Pride

Somerset pubs at the heart of new Martin Clunes movie, Mother’s Pride

Paul JonesMarch 7, 20260 Comment0

TWO landmark historic Somerset pubs are the latest county locations to star on the big screen – alongside comedy legend Martin Clunes.

The George Inn and The Fleur de Lys, in Norton St Philip, provide the backdrop for a string of scenes in comedy Mother’s Pride, which opens in cinemas this weekend.

Starring Clunes and James Buckley, best known as Jay in The Inbetweeners, alongside the likes of Mark Addy from The Full Monty, Josie Lawrence and Miles Jupp, Mother’s Pride is billed as a story of “resilience, reconciliation and real ale”.

It was filmed in October 2024 with the help of Screen Somerset, Somerset Council’s film office, and is set in a struggling west country pub at the heart of a divided community.

Mother’s Pride follows the grieving Harley family whose fortunes change when they start brewing their own beer and enter the Great British Beer Awards.

The George Inn, which dates from 1397, stars as The Drovers, run by Mick Harley (Clunes) while The Fleur, which dates from the 1500s, plays a competing pub across the road.

Linda Johnson, general manager at the George Inn and Fleur de Lys, said: “It was a joy to welcome the actors and crew and to watch the filming take place. Guests loved seeing the behind‑the‑scenes magic, and there’s a real buzz in the village knowing our pubs will be part of a national release.

“We can’t wait to see our fabulous pubs as stars of the show – it’s very exciting.”

Director of the film, Nick Moorcroft, said: “This project is deeply personal. Like many of us, I have witnessed first-hand the vital role that pubs play as the beating heart of British towns, cities and villages – places where people gather, share stories, combat isolation and loneliness, and find community and a sense of belonging.

Mark Addy and Martin Clunes in Mother’s Pride, which was largely filmed in Somerset

“When scouting locations, we encountered too many beloved pubs standing empty, their histories and memories at risk of fading forever.”

And Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset Council’s lead member for economic development, planning and assets, said: “Mother’s Pride is another great example of film-friendly Somerset taking a lead role on screen, bringing money into the local economy.

“As well as the spend when the production is here, exposure like this has been shown to attract visitors keen to experience firsthand what they have seen on screen.”

The settings come hot on the heels of Shepton Mallet hitting screens in the new Guy Ritchie adaptation of Young Sherlock, on Amazon Prime Video, while Somerset also dazzled audiences in The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson.