Somerset is one of those magical English counties you’ll never get bored of. It’s the land of paganism, tales of mischievous faeries, and English folklore. To all you Americans, Glastonbury is what you know it for, but beyond the music festival is a fine medley of Britannic villages cloaked in so much personality the Cotswolds is starting to get a tad jealous. While the two-hour schlep from London to the sleepy hollow of Bruton might put some people off, it’s worth it—not just for the train ride that swerves itself through some of the most visually spectacular patches of English countryside, but for the town’s history, art, and spectacular foodie scene. Here, Hauser & Wirth have created a mini empire of galleries, and in between the mega gardens of The Newt in Somerset and headline restaurants Osip and Briar, it’s now a village that’s firmly on everyone’s British staycation radar.
Behind a brilliant yellow door lies my boutique stay for the night, Number One Bruton. The Georgian meets Medieval forge sits on the top end of Bruton’s High Street and is best described as a Boho shack for the culturally inquisitive. From the loungers to the wallpaper and the doilies, it’s a vision of whirling colours and contemporary knick-knacks. In the retro sixties meets seventies lounge, art prints featuring everyone from Joan Collins to Naomi Campbell and Jerry Hall dazzle (some of Perry Ogden's fame). Pair the demi gallery with mosaic pieces from artist Candace Bahouth and fabric key fobs hewn from the studio of Bill Amberg, and you have a rarity in hotel land nowadays: something that was well thought out and deeply considered.
The townhouse opened up shop in the height of the Covid pandemic, and since then, its medieval forge and coaching inn have upped the intimate room count to 12. Townhouse stays are more polished and country house chic, so if you prefer a bit of timber drama like yours truly, go for one of the Forge rooms across the courtyard outback. Splintered old beams, large cushty beds, diamond bric-a-brac windows, roll top baths, and bloody lovely West Country cheese and crackers are up for swooning, as are walk-in showers of all shades of the rainbow. A plus is that it's further away from the main road and all its traffic, and minus a few scuffs on the wall and the questionably overpriced amenities, everything was near perfect.
The food here at the in-house restaurant Briar, is excellent. Housed in an old ironmonger's shop, it’s got all of the hallmarks for a friendly local neighbourhood joint: it’s small, run by a cheerful and chatty team, and there’s only room for 18 souls lucky enough to devour chef Sam Lomas’ excellent small plates. Whenever you read a review nowadays, you expect to read a load of drivel full of all the usual niceties, but I will cut the BS and say that this is one of the best meals I have had at a boutique UK hotspot this year. All in-season Somerset grains, flora, and fauna make up the medley of treats, but expect everything from glazed beef cheek numbers to Westcombe cheddar gougeres and tahini yoghurt with roasted aubergine and za’atar crisps. The Chardonnay is particularly excellent, too. The farmhouse-style brekkie is cute and stars homemade croissants, jams, granola, and lots of cheese and chutney. There’s no cooked option (that’s a hint to introduce one).
Fast Facts
Location: Bruton, Somerset
Rating: Five-star
The vibe: Medieval barn meets retro chic.
Room count: 12
Pricing: Rates start at $350 per night.
Dining: Exquisite farm-to-table Somerset excellence. The quality of the ingredients speaks for themselves.
Amenities: Bar, restaurant, boutique
Our favourite thing about the place: The people. They are warm, exceptionally friendly, and you will want to take them home with you.
What’s nearby: A medley of cute coffee shops, boutiques, and galleries. Just go and explore. It’s a walkable village, and the cuteness overload will put you into a creative coma.
Closest International airport: London Heathrow
