Harden's says
Opened in November 2021, from the team behind London's Salon, Larry's and Levan. Nicholas Balfe is from Somerset and returns to his roots to open this restaurant and co-working space in the village's old bank
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Excellent food in a nicely converted old bank” make this three-year-old a “very handy stopover in an attractive Somerset village off the A303”. Fans of chef-patron Nicholas Balfe’s previous projects, Salon and Levan in south London, are happy to report “it didn’t disappoint – the set lunch came at a good price and à la carte just added to the experience”: “the roast was excellent, the starters precise and pretty, and even the bread was perfect – soft, moist and warm, wrapped in a crunchy crust”.
Summary
“A great addition to the food scene in Somerset” – this two-year-old operation from chef-patron Nicholas Balfe (previously of the team behind Peckham’s Levan, now flying solo) occupies a converted bank, with a dining room in the original vault, open kitchen and diners’ counter. Foodwise, the focus is on reasonably priced modern bistro fare not a million miles from its original stablemate’s ‘bistronomy’. Other features include an outside terrace (for coffee or snacks) and rooms for a stay. Top Tip – “good value lunch menu”.
Summary
“Excellent food in a converted former bank” is the ‘elevator pitch’ for this November 2021 newcomer from Nicholas Balfe, Mark Gurney and Matt Bushnell of south London’s Levan and Larry’s. Initial reports are upbeat all-round on all aspects of the 30-cover dining room in the original vault, complete with open kitchen and bookable diners’ counter. Or you can now also eat on the newly added outside terrace (also available for drop-in coffee, drinks and snacks) and next year will see the opening of seven bedrooms.
Summary
Salon, Larry's and Levan founder Nicholas Balfe has left London to launch this rural village newcomer in rural Somerset, taking over a former bank to create a 40-cover restaurant-with-rooms, with a further 50 covers outdoors. ‘Some of the excitement and cosmopolitanism of London restaurants’ is the stated aim. From Spring 2022, he aims to serve all day from breakfast focusing, of course, on local produce. Drinkswise, there will be natural wines (the old bank vaults are to become the wine cellar) as well as homemade soft drinks, ciders and perries.
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 Holm?
28 St James Street, South Petherton, TA13 5BT
Restaurant details
Holm Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Didn’t quite hit the spot for all dishes and disappointing to have run out of one of the mains for Sunday lunch."
"Visited for lunch. Very good value 3:3:3 set lunch menu. Delicious fish, perfectly cooked and well presented. Attentive and friendly service. Short but varied wine list with the option of a 500ml carafe on some wines. We will go again."
28 St James Street, South Petherton, TA13 5BT
Opening hours
| Monday | CLOSED |
| Tuesday | CLOSED |
| Wednesday | 6 pm‑ |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 6 pm‑11:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑3 pm |
Best British, Modern restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Ilminster
British, Modern restaurant in Tytherleigh
British, Modern restaurant in Evershot
Best similarly priced restaurants nearby
British, Modern restaurant in Milborne Port
British, Modern restaurant in Burton Bradstock
British, Modern restaurant in Southleigh
