n the rolling countryside of Somerset, where winding lanes lead past ancient orchards and honey-coloured villages, lies one of Britain’s most remarkable destinations. The Newt in Somerset is not simply a hotel. It is an entire world — a sprawling estate where gardens, gastronomy, design and nature exist in quiet harmony.
Set within the restored Georgian manor of Hadspen House near the artistic town of Bruton, The Newt has become one of the most celebrated boutique hotels in the UK. The property opened in 2019 after an ambitious six-year restoration led by Karen Roos and Koos Bekker, transforming a historic country estate into a destination that feels both deeply rooted in Somerset’s heritage and strikingly contemporary.
Arriving feels cinematic. Guests travel through fields and woodland before reaching the elegant limestone façade of the house, surrounded by acres of gardens, orchards and farmland. The estate stretches across hundreds of acres, designed not just as a hotel but as a working landscape where agriculture, design and hospitality intersect.
The rooms — around forty in total — are spread between the Georgian manor and beautifully converted farm buildings nearby. Interiors mix historic character with modern luxury: freestanding bathtubs, soft linen, antique furniture and quiet views across the Somerset countryside.
But what truly defines The Newt is its connection to the land.
Food is central to the experience. Much of what appears on the menu is grown directly on the estate itself, from vegetables harvested in the kitchen gardens to meat sourced from local farms. Dining options range from the elegant Botanical Rooms restaurant in the Georgian house to the relaxed Farmyard Kitchen and Garden Café, where seasonal ingredients lead the menu.
The estate also produces its own cyder — Somerset’s traditional spelling of cider — made from hundreds of apple varieties grown in the surrounding orchards. Tastings in the cyder cellar have quickly become a ritual for guests looking to understand the agricultural history of the region.
Beyond the dining rooms, the estate unfolds like a living museum. Guests wander through formal gardens and woodland paths, explore the immersive Story of Gardening exhibition, or visit the Roman Villa discovery site. There are beehives, orchards and seasonal workshops celebrating everything from beekeeping to rural crafts.
And then there is the spa — a tranquil retreat with hydrotherapy pools, hammam and treatments inspired by botanical ingredients grown on the estate itself.
What makes The Newt so compelling is that it feels less like a hotel and more like a complete countryside ecosystem. Guests can spend days exploring the gardens, cycling through woodland, dining on estate produce and watching the rhythms of rural life unfold.
In a world of polished luxury hotels, The Newt stands apart. It is immersive, thoughtful and unmistakably British — a modern country estate where design, nature and food come together to create something quietly extraordinary.
Discover more:
Restaurants:
https://thenewtsomerset.com/restaurants
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