In short… Number One Bruton comprises a clutch of sympathetically restored and renovated buildings—a Georgian townhouse, 16th-century cottages and a medieval forge—alongside a traditional English pub and a farm-to-table restaurant in idyllic Somerset.
The surroundings… A sense of tranquility and slower pace of life ekes out from every fragment of warm, honey-coloured limestone inside the rather bucolic village of Bruton, within the West Country.
Author John Steinbeck, who famously lived nearby, said of the harmony found in the area, “I can’t describe the joy… I do nothing but look and listen and out of this comes a luxury of rest and peace and something I can only describe as in-ness.”
The backstory… Number One features 12 individually fashioned bedrooms set amongst a series of buildings that have been in constant use for over 500 years. A careful melding of the ancient and industrial, softened by bursts of playful colour and lush, cosy furnishings.
The vibe… Charming. It is no mean feat tying three seemingly diverse buildings together into one splendidly cohesive unit. In large part assisted not only by the picturesque interiors, but also the south-facing central courtyard designed by esteemed garden writer and lecturer, Penelope Hobhouse.
The rooms… I stayed in the Forge, Room 2, with its beautifully exposed 12th-century A-frames, a free standing bath (which was exceedingly hard not to make use of most nights) and a beckoningly large kingsize bed.
I also managed to have a quick nosy in Townhouse One, where a friend was staying; equally resplendent, albeit in a differing aesthetic, with a larger lounge and original fireplace, stacked with logs just waiting to be lit.
The wellness… You need only venture out the front door of Number One Bruton to have a plentitude of scenic ambles at your disposal. Personally, I would recommend the walk to nearby Batcombe, home to venerated chef Margot Henderson’s The Three Horseshoes pub. Roughly a 7-mile round trip with a delicious lunch and a pint smack dab in the middle. What more could you ask for?
The food… Now this is where things get even more interesting. Attached to Number One is the Michelin Bib-Gourmand-winning restaurant Briar; led by Sam Lomas, a former River Cottage chef. Sam and his team offer a locally sourced, ingredient-led take on an arguably British menu. Think small plates and larger sharing dishes revolving around produce sourced from the Somerset area. Truly exceptional.
I sadly resigned myself to not ordering everything and started off with the smoked beetroot and horseradish cream, which had just the right amount of charred earthiness, spiked through with that pleasingly sharp, spicy heat. A venison carpaccio followed, and the meal finished off with possibly my favourite dish: baked leeks with hazelnuts, honey, and fresh house-made curds scattered on top.
On the drinks side of things I began with a classic Negroni, a glass of orange Animalia throughout the main attraction, and rounded the evening off with a Somerset cider brandy digestif.
Extra tip goes to… Milo, a server at Briar, who upon the conclusion of our meal brought over a sloe gin, which had been made with berries picked from Bruton bushes while on a team-building exercise on behalf of the restaurant. The perfect night cap to an already impeccable feast.
Be sure to… Arrive hungry. I was seriously impressed with the food scene in Bruton, considering it’s a small market town with a population of roughly 3,000. Should Briar be booked out, The Old Pharmacy, At The Chapel, and Osip Restaurant are just a stone’s throw away, as is the Hauser and Wirth Gallery’s in-house Italian, Da Costa.
Parting words… I’ve found it a rarity in life when you come into something with high expectations and those expectations are not only met but surpassed in every sense.
Date of stay… April 14-17, 2026
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