7 Cosy Staycation Spots In Somerset
Holm
South Petherton
Chef and restaurateur Nicholas Balfe was part of the trio that opened Salon in Brixton and Levan in Peckham. Since stepping away, he has moved to the small village of South Petherton to open Holm, a smart restaurant with rooms. It’s housed in a former bank in the centre of the village, with pared-back interiors and a buzzy dining room that’s nearly always full. On arrival, guests are warmly welcomed by Nick and his team. You’ll first notice the open kitchen, which has six seats at the counter if you want to watch the chefs at work. There’s also a 34-cover dining room centred around the bank’s original vault, with a cosy snug for cocktails. To the rear of the building there’s a lovely terrace and wild garden, where you can relax with drinks and nibbles during the warmer months.
As you’d expect from Balfe, the food at Holm is hyper-seasonal, meaning the menu changes often and only showcases the best produce from the surrounding areas – some of which is grown in its kitchen garden. During a recent visit, we enjoyed the set menu, which included hors d'oeuvres of cheese and pickle bites and chicken liver pâté on toast, followed by larger dishes of squash ravioli with basil oil, lamb hogget with caramelised onions and a rich red wine sauce, and peach sgroppino with local Somerset cider. All were delicately balanced and beautifully presented. There’s also the option to choose from the à la carte and weekend menus. On Sundays, dishes include spelt risotto with sage and onion squash; wild sea bass with oyster mushrooms, and Meadowlea Farm sirloin with carrots and Yorkshire puddings; all served with roast potatoes and autumn greens. The cellar is in the original bank vault and is home to a selection of low-intervention wines from small makers around the UK and Europe.
Last year, the team added seven characterful bedrooms above the restaurant. Each one has been decorated with calming tones, natural fabrics and exposed lime plaster walls. Rooms have spacious, bright en-suite bathrooms, while three bedrooms have roll-top baths. For a special stay, book the Elm room (also pet-friendly) which has a grand four-poster bed and lovely views of the village. Beds are supremely comfortable and thoughtful touches include homemade cookies. As well as calming rooms that blend into the village's aesthetic, the team here are the real highlight. Nick is a fantastic host, while his team go the extra mile to make sure everything is taken care of, from booking taxis to nearby Crewkerne station to suggesting walking routes around the village.
Rooms from £140 per night on a B&B basis.
Visit HOLMSOMERSET.CO.UK
Number One Bruton
Bruton
The fashion crowd frequently gathered at the Michelin-starred restaurant Osip, which was once located within Number One Bruton. Now, Osip has found a permanent site just a short drive from its original home, but there are still plenty of reasons to visit Number One. The property comprises a Georgian townhouse, a medieval forge and a row of cottages that have been converted into a 12-bedroom hotel set around a pretty, private courtyard. Restored original features lend character to all the bedrooms, which are decorated in rich colours and vintage furnishings. Cottages and rooms in the forge, which dates back to the 12th century, are equally cosy and characterful, with original stone walls and spacious bathrooms. Best of all, guests are greeted with a selection of local treats, including a truckle of cheddar cheese and crackers, local cider and fruit.
Just a few months ago, chef Sam Lomas opened his debut restaurant at the hotel. Briar is all about farm-to-table cooking and showing off local produce. Guests can enjoy a daily changing blackboard menu of small plates, snacks, sharing dishes and proper puddings alongside an inventive drinks menu. Food is hearty and unpretentious, with dishes like homemade smoked pork sausages with cider mustard, braised shoulder of lamb with butter beans and herbs, and apple cake with butterscotch and clotted cream. Included with overnight stays, breakfast here is a treat – think freshly baked croissants, sourdough bread, soft boiled eggs, local ham, homemade jams, granola and yoghurt.
The hotel is in an excellent location on Bruton’s buzzy high street – visitors will see why the town is dubbed ‘the Notting Hill of the South West’. Within walking distance is the prestigious Hauser & Wirth gallery, numerous independent boutiques, antiques shops and cafés. The Newt is also a short drive away if you want to explore its estate.
Rooms from £160 per night on a B&B basis.
Visit NUMBERONEBRUTON.COM
Pennard Hill Farm
East Pennard
If you want a rustic staycation with home comforts, Pennard Hill Farm should be on your list. This family-run spot is set on a working farm near Glastonbury and offers numerous accommodation options. During the summer months, guests have the option to stay in a safari tent or tree glamping pod, while its forest cabin Hide and self-catered cottages are great year-round options. The Lamb cottage sleeps two and is perfect for romantic trips with its wood-fired hot tub, while The Golden Fleeces accommodates eight across four bedrooms. All have traditional country interiors and scenic views. They’re also spaced apart for total privacy.
As well as exploring the local area and heading on long country walks, you can book swimming slots at the farm’s indoor heated pool, which is in a converted barn with views of the rolling hills. Local therapist Jo offers a range of beauty treatments, from hot stone massages to lifting facials and lymphatic drainage using Bamford products. If you’re visiting with kids, little ones can visit the farm’s cows and spot wildlife around the estate.
Self-catering facilities are available throughout, though guests will want to reserve an evening to experience one of Pennard Hill’s farm feasts in its dining room, made with produce from suppliers in the local area. Main courses of meat and vegetables are cooked over an open fire, with side dishes like herby potatoes, lemony butter beans with crispy sage and seasonal salads. Dessert could be spiced walnut cake with clotted cream or sticky toffee pudding. In the morning guests are served homemade granola, stewed fruit and yogurt from the nearby Brown Cow Organics, followed by a hot course of henhouse eggs, and bacon and sausages from the farm’s own Mangalitza pigs.
Rooms from £320 per night.
Visit PENNARDHILLFARM.CO.UK
42 Acres
Frome
For a full switch-off in one of the most beautiful rural settings in the West Country, head to 42 Acres in Frome. The regenerative organic farm operates as a nature reserve and retreat centre where guests can pamper themselves and take advantage of the restorative benefits of nature. Founded by siblings Lara and Seth Tabatznik who are passionate about holistic wellness practices, the eco-friendly estate runs on 100% renewable energy and grows its own vegetables. There are over 170 acres of rewilded woodland to explore, and guests are encouraged to make the most by exploring the treehouse on site, helping out in the gardens by picking fruit and veg, and enjoying cold-water dips in the seven-acre lake.
The retreat offers a range of holistic experiences, from yoga and meditation sessions to breathwork and sound healing workshops. Try a ‘Wild Weekend’ staycation to fully immerse yourself into the experience over the course of 48 hours or book in for a three or four-night self-catered stay. Accommodation ranges from the small boat moored on the lake to four-person barns and an 11-person farmhouse complete with a patio and outdoor dining area. All interiors are thoughtfully designed, featuring organic materials, large windows with views of the surrounding landscape, and plenty of cosy corners to unwind.
The kitchen follows a farm-to-table ethos, serving seasonal, plant-based meals made with ingredients grown in the retreat’s biodynamic garden. Meals are nourishing and beautifully presented, offering dishes like roasted squash with tahini and fermented vegetables, or wild nettle soup with sourdough croutons.
From £450 per retreat.
Visit 42ACRES.COM
Durslade Farmhouse
Bruton
You don’t need us to tell you that Bruton is the coolest town in Somerset. It’s the destination that’s leading the charge when it comes to truly great restaurants, independent shops and stylish places to stay in Somerset. Tucked between Yeovil and Frome on the banks of the River Brue, it’s easily reached in a two-hour train journey from London. Often dubbed the Notting Hill of the west, there are several artistic venues to visit, including the striking world-class Hauser & Wirth gallery.
Right next to Hauser & Wirth, you’ll find wonderful Durslade Farmhouse, which is owned by Artfarm, the same great team as The Fife Arms in Scotland and Mount St Restaurant in Mayfair. Dating to the 18th century, this six-bedroom house is found on Durslade Farm and is available to rent as a whole. Each of the rooms has its own character and charm, featuring antique furniture and wallpaper and vintage finds sourced from local flea markets and salvage yards. The walls are hung with original works by Hauser & Wirth artists, there’s a welcome row of wellies by the entrance to encourage exploration and the farmhouse kitchen is stocked with local bread, cheese, yoghurt and preserves, all of which are available to buy from its Farm Shop. Sleeping 12 guests, each bedroom is furnished with fine Egyptian cotton bedding and has a private bathroom, fitted with quirky 1970s fixtures or free-standing roll-top baths.
Downstairs there’s a dining room, lounge and study, as well as an outside private terrace, which is just the place to dive into a tray of margaritas in the summertime. In the winter, it’s the lavish dining room which really comes into its own. With a floor-to-ceiling mural by Argentinian artist Guillermo Kuitca, the room’s grand long table is decorated with candelabra and foliage and the team can arrange for chefs to prepare a feast of local produce. If you don’t fancy cooking and want a buzzy atmosphere among fellow diners, book a table at Da Costa, the farm’s new restaurant right next door, which serves Italian dishes using produce from the walled garden and wine from Durslade Farm’s own vineyard. Finally, we challenge you not to leave Durslade’s Farm Shop without bundles of jams, cheeses and one or two of its boldly bottled negronis to recreate the experience back at home.
Available to book from £500 per night.
Visit DURSLADEFARMHOUSE.CO.UK
The Three Horseshoes
Batcombe
Last spring, chef Margot Henderson of much-loved Shoreditch institution Rochelle Canteen opened a gorgeous gastropub with rooms in the village of Batcombe. After an impressive restoration of its original 17th-century building, which now includes a bar, two dining rooms, a lawn, terrace and courtyard, Margot got to work creating a menu that celebrated the best seasonal produce from the county – and it’s easy to see why it’s a favourite among locals.
The bar offers a range of local ciders alongside craft beers and Somerset wines, while dishes include poached chicken with leeks and green sauce, Tamworth chop with turnip and lentils, mince on toast, and treacle tart with clotted cream. At this time of year, there’s nothing more we’d like to eat than one of the kitchen’s sharing pies and a big bowl of greens, and – as you’d expect – the pub’s Sunday roasts are a thing of beauty. Make sure to leave room for the blackberry crumble sundae. There’s also a great private dining room out back for anyone looking to mark a special occasion. Given Margot’s rollcall of famous friends, it’s also worth keeping an eye out for the kitchen takeovers and collab dinners that often take place at the pub.
Non-locals will be pleased to hear that upstairs there are a handful of bedrooms. Each of the five rooms has been beautifully designed, with smartly upholstered headboards, colourful paintings and patterned curtains adding texture and brightness to the calming palette on the walls. All come with deep baths, king-sized beds and luxe bedding – and dogs can stay overnight too for £30 a hound.
Rooms from £220 a night.
8 Holland Street Townhouse
Bath
Founded by Tobias Vernon, 8 Holland Street in Bath is one of the best interiors shops in the country and is an absolute treasure trove for anyone doing up a house or looking for one or two one-off pieces to add life and character to their home. Last year, Tobias launched 8 Holland Street Townhouse, a striking space above the shop with three exceptional suites, an Eames-filled kitchen and a beautiful communal drawing room, complete with a help-yourself home bar.
Built in 1770 and expertly restored, The Townhouse has three individually designed bedrooms, each with en-suites filled with Tekla towels, Hay dressing gowns and Le Labo toiletries. Our pick is Suite One, which is accented with Peggy Angus wallpaper, Josef Frank rugs and original works by Eduardo Paolozzo. Over its three floors of original Georgian architecture, you’ll find expertly curated furniture, original artwork and textiles with contemporary design elements: think art from Alexander Calder, Elisabeth Frink and Zach Zono and design details by Mario Bellini and Vivai del Sud. Best of all, the collection is always evolving, making each stay a little bit different. It’s worth noting that the whole townhouse can be booked for exclusive use.
While cafetières of coffee and a Swedish smorgasbord breakfast are provided in the bright communal kitchen each morning, the team can also arrange for additional amenities including maid service, private dinners, concierge, guides and a driver to ensure guests can experience Bath and the surrounding area to their full potential. If you’re looking for somewhere close for dinner, we recommend The Beckford Canteen, a lovely restaurant in a converted greenhouse that serves a great Sunday lunch.
Rooms from £280 per night.
Visit 8HOLLANDSTREET.COM
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.