Autumn has arrived. And, after a somewhat unsatisfying summer, it’s comforting to see the telltale signs of this season already starting to show – crunchy leaves, crackling fires, and cosy vibes. It’s the perfect time of year to escape the city and inhale some crisp countryside air. And as home to the Showerings orchard, we know Somerset is smattered with boutique boltholes serving locally sourced, seasonal, and (most importantly) scrumptious food. So, here’s our insider guide to a food-focused staycation in Somerset.
The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe
From Shoreditch to Somerset, Margot Henderson’s straightforward and seasonal menus always speak for themselves. But even more so in a space that celebrates simplicity as much as The Three Horseshoes, where inglenook fireplaces are carved in whitewashed walls and rustic wooden chairs scrape against flagstone floors. All the signs of its 17th-century origin story are there, just with an effortlessly fresh facelift.
Unsurprisingly, the food follows suit. The daily changing menu is packed with hearty, old English classics (like rabbit pie and dripping chips) and the bar is always stocked with traditional tipples (like real ales and local cider). So, whether you want to scrape the mud off your boots and settle down for a game of Scrabble over a pint or join the trendy crowd for a cocktail or two before a candlelit dinner, a weekend away at The Three Horseshoes is the perfect antidote to modern city living.
At the Chapel, Bruton
At the Chapel you’ll find everything… except a chapel. A restaurant, an artisan bakery, a wine shop, a bar, and nine bedrooms – all housed inside a converted 18th-century congregational chapel on Bruton’s high street. In comparison to some of its cosier comrades on this list, At the Chapel appears strikingly sterile at first glance. But the spotless white-on-white colour scheme adds a sense of place that’s satisfyingly self-aware of its sanctimonious setting.
On the menu, England’s West Country meets the Mediterranean. From wood-fired pizzas with friends to flat iron steak with a date, its versatility caters to all occasions. And to wash it all down, walk down the would-be aisle to the reappointed alter, where – instead – you’ll find a full-service bar, serving everything from cocktails to coffee. Post (food and drink) service, stay in room two, where a stained glass window steals the show. This is undoubtedly one of the most unique stays in Somerset. Amen.
Babington House, Babington
At some point, we all encounter someone who makes the move from city to country (and doesn’t stop raving about the rural lifestyle). And if that person were a hotel, they’d be Babington House – the more wholesome sister to Soho House’s swanky city spots. Attracting a slightly more sophisticated crowd, expect to spot 30-something couples sipping Lady A rosé under cream-coloured parasols or self-proclaimed creatives sipping a flat white whilst reading the morning paper.
Ultimately, Babington House wants you to treat it like home. If, that is, your home has two heated swimming pools, a bike shed, the original Cowshed spa, tennis and padel courts, a croquet lawn, and more. To refuel after such countryside pursuits, guests swarm to The Orangery to dine on seasonal plates created from produce grown onsite in the Walled Garden or sourced locally (South Coast seabass or Manor Farm tomahawk, anyone?).
The PIG-near Bath, Hunstrete
This little piggy is part of a litter of properties known for their homegrown produce. And with a reputation like this to precede it, this Georgian country house tucked into the folds of the Mendip Hills easily secured its spot on this list. Wining and dining is the name of the game here – from the hotel’s own range of Pig Cut wines to the kitchen garden’s zero-mile ingredients, you’ll be well-refreshed and well-fed from check-in to check-out.
A family home until the 1970s, The PIG-near Bath maintains so many of its original features – from the period pieces of furniture to the portraits of its former residents hanging on the walls. So, with a post-feast full stomach, you can choose to curl up by the crackling fire with a Showerings cider, be submerged by bubbles in your bathtub, or dawdle around the deer park on your doorstep. Bliss.
Hauser and Wirth, Bruton
An artist’s community. A foodie’s playground. A staycationer’s escape. Hauser and Wirth wears many hats. But, first and foremost, it’s a commitment to combatting the lack of exposure to contemporary art in the countryside. Something Iwan and Manuela Wirth certainly brought to Bruton with a bang. Because it’s not just the exhibitions here that are art-filled. The onsite restaurants and accommodation are plastered with carefully curated contemporary pieces, too.
In fact, Roth Bar is at once a fully functioning bar and a dynamic art installation in its own right. It’s somewhere you can sip on local drinks in a space shaped by salvaged materials from the surrounding area. For a more traditional dining experience (think white tablecloths, dripping candles, and an open kitchen), head to Da Costa, the newly opened restaurant that blends quintessential Englishness with Italian flair. Then, once suitably stuffed, slink off to Durslade Farmhouse – a six-bedroom Grade II-listed property perfect for private stays.