What’s NEWt in Somerset

Near the market towns of Bruton and Castle Cary a love affair between this exquisite working estate and Pippa Rose Lifestyle began…

The Newt in Somerset is a quintessential escape to the countryside kind of place. Within acres of gardens and woodland sits Hadspen House which dates back to the 18th century, and was the family seat of the Hobhouse family for two centuries.

There are 23 individually designed rooms which are laid out between Hadspen House and the Stable Yard buildings. There really is no such thing as a bad room (which makes our job a little easier). Rooms in Hadspen House offer a more Georgian fare with sash windows and serene colour palettes, whereas in the stable yard they are a little more playful and wonderfully eclectic in design.

South African owners, Karen Roos and Koos Bekker have put an equal amount of love, care and detail into this new property as they did into their wildly successful southern hemisphere estate – Babylonstorren (which we also adore). This attention to detail can be seen throughout the Newt with an artful mix of freestanding bath tubs, four-poster beds, bespoke shades of Farrow & Ball and quirky art pieces.

There are numerous country pursuits to be enjoyed across the estate – be it a game of croquet, stroll through the ancient woodland, cyder (Newt coined spelling) tour and tastings and a not to be missed garden tour (ask for Arthur he’s wonderful!). And if like myself you don’t come equipped for countryside pursuits, fear not as they have plenty of wellies and rain macs to borrow!

After a cyder or garden tour you can relax in the main house and enjoy an afternoon tea or head to their pretty wow spa. The spa houses a swimming pool, indoor-outdoor hydro pool, sauna, steam room, halotherapy room, authentic Hammam and a mud rasul chamber. There is also a gym which features ground to ceiling glass and overlooks the private kitchen garden

Food lovers will rejoice at their being no shortage of good dining options. The Garden café is another glass façade job and focuses it’s menu on what you see is what you eat. The Botanical Rooms comprises of two spaces – the immersive glass room and an intimate oak room, both of which carefully curate menus to showcase the lifecycle of the Estate and Somerset region.
We can also arrange a private dinner in the original vaulted cellar.

Treat yourself in their excellent farm shop and buy bottles of Newt apple* juice to take home, along with their own ‘cyder’, pressed in the barn next door as well as Babylonstoren wine, homemade chutneys, pates, honey, bread and other foodie goodies.

* FUN FACT – The newt has 267 varieties of apples

Why we love it: The complimentary larder in your room is stocked with the delicious Newt cyder which can be enjoyed in front of a cosy fire.

How to get there: The Newt is just 30 miles from Bath. GWR services arrive from London Paddington, Bristol and Exeter, direct to Castle Cary Station, from which transfers are available.

Rates start from £275 per night

(Guests have access to the gardens, entry for non-guests is £15)