Harden's says
Hadspen House, built around 1690, has been bought and refurbished as a luxury hotel by South African billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos, former Elle Decoration editor. There's gardens to explore here and a cafe as well as this main restaurant.
Harden's survey result
Summary
The more formal, oak-panelled dining room at “stunning” Georgian estate The Newt, which was launched by billionaire Koos Bekker and wife Karen, a former Elle Decoration editor, five years back. On the menu, a “sensational” three-course set (£95) which makes the most of “carefully sourced ingredients” spanning heritage-breed meats and catch from the West Country’s ports. Also on the grounds are more casual eateries the Farmyard Kitchen, in an old threshing barn, and the “pleasant” Garden Café (see also). There is the odd naysayer for whom the cuisine is more “sensible” than sensational, but there’s no denying the “atmosphere is chic”, and “after a lovely meal” you can “walk around the beautiful grounds” (“for a while, I felt I was in heaven!”).
Summary
“A treat after viewing the interesting gardens” – this ‘Country House Reimagined’ is a handsome, limestone Georgian pile in lovely Somerset countryside and is the brainchild of billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos’s (ex-editor of Elle Decoration). Where eating is concerned, the main event is a “gorgeous” panelled traditional chamber (for more inexpensive meals, head for The Garden Café – “a beautifully designed glass box” overlooking the kitchen garden and orchards – ). “Good local produce, much from the grounds just outside” is presented alongside meat from heritage breeds on a three-course menu for £85 per person. One or two reports suggest “it’s good but doesn’t quite hit the heights it’s aiming for” but on most accounts it’s merely a “fantastic” experience – “love the range of Newt ciders” too.
Summary
“Love this place” – set in historic Hadspen House and its famous gardens (operated since 2019 as a luxury hotel, shop and restaurant by South African billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife Karen Roos, an ex-editor of Elle Decoration). It’s “beautifully done”, and the “wood-panelled restaurant in the old house, with its candlelit atmosphere”, makes an ideal setting for “a wonderful, surprising tasting menu”, which is “certainly not your usual country house hotel food” – and which includes pairings with cider produced on the estate. (“Perfect on a late summer evening as the sun finally sets after some great pre-dinner cocktails”).
Summary
“Simply stunning surroundings” inspire much of the feedback on this revamped country pile (Hadspen House, built around 1690) which has been bought and refurbished as a luxury hotel by South African billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife, Karen Roos, former Elle Decoration editor. “The oak-panelled dining room is very nice and the adjoining glass box (which occupies the former courtyard) less soulless than most glass boxes”. Even if it’s “very expensive”, there is some “very accomplished cooking” too, with “a number of very interesting and delicious dishes (mackerel and rhubarb works!)”. They must be doing something right, as from September 2021 you must be a hotel resident or member of their club (£48) to book a table here.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at The Botanical Rooms at The Newt?
The Newt in Somerset, Bruton, BA7 7NG
Restaurant details
The Botanical Rooms at The Newt Restaurant Diner Reviews
"A wonderful, if rather pricey, exclusive place for lunch or dinner. Staff so welcoming and motivated. The glasshouse restaurant is attention grabbing. Food is simple but very well executed using lots of ingredients either sourced from the estate or nearby farms. The after-lunch stroll through the grounds is magical and full of interest. Fabulous!"
"What a beautiful experience, exceptional food, the icing on the cake was unlimited access to the gardens "
"Lunch simply fabulous. Menu is bistro style, well chosen, carefully sourced ingredients and every dish well prepared. Service outstanding. Surroundings stunning. After a lovely meal, the walk around the beautiful grounds was delightful. For a while, I felt I was in heaven. It was that good!"
Prices
| Availability | 2 courses | 3 courses |  |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | £40.00 | £45.00 |  |
|
 |
| Dinner | £85.00 | |
|
|
| Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
| Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £0.00 |
| Service | 12.50% |
The Newt in Somerset, Bruton, BA7 7NG
Opening hours
| Monday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Tuesday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Wednesday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Thursday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Friday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Saturday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
| Sunday | 12:30 pm‑2:30 pm, 6:30 pm‑9 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Bruton
British, Modern restaurant in Bruton
British, Modern restaurant in Batcombe
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Lymington
