The Newt in Somerset

LOCATION: Bruton, Somerset, United Kingdom

TRAVEL: Approximately 3 hours by car from London.

History:

Previously known as Hadspen House, this 17th-century property has undergone a number of renovations and transformations over the years. Located in the county of Somerset in South West England, situated approximately three hours from London by car.

Originally owned by the Fane family, the house and gardens were designed by Sir Charles Bridgeman, a renowned landscape architect, in the early 18th century. The gardens at Hadspen House were considered to be some of the finest in the country and were visited by many notable figures, including King George III and Queen Charlotte.

In the early 20th century, the property was purchased by Sir Edward Phelips, who commissioned the architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to redesign the house and gardens. Lutyens added several new features to the property, including a pool, a courtyard, and a number of outbuildings.

Purchased by Koos Bekker and his partner, Karen Roos (Babylonstoren) in recent years, the property has undergone a number of renovations and has been transformed into a luxury hotel and garden destination known as The Newt in Somerset. The property includes a spa, restaurant, 42 guest rooms, beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces open to the public.

Property & Facilities:

The Newt in Somerset is not your ordinary hotel. Firstly, it occupies the grounds of what most small cities are built upon (rumoured to be over 800 acres), whilst only providing 42 rooms within this vast expanse. However, don’t let the modest number of rooms fool you. The Newt provides plenty in terms of facilities to keep you occupied - two restaurants, two bars, a spa, gym, yoga studio, two swimming pools, gardens, a deli, butcher, cheesemonger and gelateria. As well as this, numerous activities can be booked with the concierge during your stay.

Arrival:

Our trip took place in July, during the English summer. Our stay was for one night to provide a stop en route to our final destination, Cornwall. Upon arrival, we were met by an unassuming wooden gate where we were requested to provide our booking name. The gate proceeded to open and the tree-lined driveway continued, passing over cattle grids, alongside herds of sheep until we were eventually met by a member of staff who asked what luggage we would like to be taken to our room.

As it was before noon, we were too early for check-in and so decided to explore the property. On route to the main house, passing the spa and gym it was near impossible to tell which buildings were ‘new’ and which were original. It is a testament to the level of detail, craftsmanship and investment that has been achieved. The main house is contemporary with a clean and modern interior that hosts art and an extensive library, acknowledging the property's history. It is clear to see the influence that Mrs Bekker, previously Elle Decoration's former Editor has had on the styling.

Having strolled the grounds and had a brief snack in the bar, we tried our luck to see if our room was ready. It was…..

Rooms & Service:

Our room was situated in the ‘clock house’ which was a stone’s throw away from the main house. This building plays host to 4 rooms with a communal lounge for guests to enjoy. Here you will find furniture to enjoy a magazine or book. Also, macs (not the computer kind) and wellies are accessible should you choose to wander the grounds and not want to get your shoes dirty. Every little (thought) counts as they say!

The room was spacious, light and airy. Even if it was over 30 degrees. As you would expect from a hotel of this stature, it comes with all the amenities that you would expect. There was an oversized bath and shower with some of the best-smelling toiletry products you could wish for. Top tip - get your hands on the sage room spray! As mentioned before, it was a very hot period during the English summer during our stay but the staff had clearly made as much effort as possible to cool the room. With multiple Dyson fans and an AC unit deployed, it was impossible not to acknowledge the trouble they had gone to.

In my opinion, service is the most important part of a hotel or restaurant. This is a contentious statement I realise, but good service will always elevate food in a restaurant and turn a good stay into a great stay in a hotel. The Newt strikes the balance perfectly. On hand to satisfy your needs but out of sight to make you feel like you have the place to yourself. They manage this because everything is thought of before you arrive.

“Service is the foundation that a business should be built upon and The Newt executes it perfectly.“

Dining:

Many of today’s hotels try to adopt sustainable, locally sourced produce for their menus and The Newt is no exception. It rears livestock on its grounds and grows enough fruit and vegetables to support itself time and again. The food is suitably inspired by British cuisine with the kitchen executing a ‘less is more’ approach. You will not see sparklers in desserts or grand carving shows at The Newt. It is understated excellence at its best. The restaurant design is a beautiful mix of old and new with original wood panelling mixed with huge glass panels which support an extended restaurant. Once again, the engineering is executed perfectly and strikes the balance of old and new perfectly.

Verdict:

Overall, our stay, albeit short, was faultless. It is not often that a property meets all your needs and surpasses your expectations, especially with the money that some properties command nowadays. If you do decide to book, it may be important to note that the Farmyard is situated an 5 minute buggy ride away from the main house. This can be self-driven or if the weather is inclement, a covered buggy can be requested at a moments notice. Nevertheless, the rooms and facilities are the same, although slightly larger (and more expensive). I am interested in comparing the product again in the winter when we return to spend the Christmas period.

Give The Newt a visit, you won’t regret it!