The Soul of Somerset: A Traveller’s Guide to Bruton

Steeped in history and surrounded by an otherworldly landscape, Bruton is a sanctuary for those who seek quiet connection, creativity, and a return to the land. It is here, amidst ancient woodlands, rolling fields, and a community that honours craft and tradition, that you’ll discover the true essence of Somerset.

Bruton is the place we at Commune call home. We’re delighted to introduce this collection to you, and will continue to add more destinations along our travels. Immerse yourself in our thoughtfully curated guide below, and feel free to reach out at [email protected] to share the places that inspire you most. We look forward to hearing from you.

Food & Drink: Every Meal Tells a Story

In Bruton, food is a celebration of the earth’s bounty, lovingly cultivated by those who call this land home. From farm-to-table dining to locally sourced delicacies, every meal is an invitation to pause, savor, and connect with the land beneath your feet.

Da Costa

For an intimate dining experience, Da Costa serves a symphony of flavours that speaks to the heart. The menu is a celebration of traditional northern Italian cuisine, featuring an array of antipasti, homemade pastas, risottos, and daily specials cooked over an open fire. Drawing on freshly grown seasonal ingredients from the walled garden, each dish blends the heart of English produce with the bold flavours of Italian culinary tradition.

Horrell & Horrell

Jules & Steve’s micro-dining concept is a perfect blend of Somerset’s seasonal bounty and the simplicity and heritage of European influences. Set in an old cow barn and fire kitchen at their rural home, the experience is a rustic, immersive celebration of the land. Recognised as one of the UK’s best dining experiences by Condé Nast, Olive Magazine, The Telegraph, and National Geographic, guests gather around a long sharing table to enjoy a menu-free meal that changes with each week’s harvest. Jules handpicks vegetables from the kitchen garden and fruits from the orchard, while Steve expertly cooks over an open fire in a brick oven he built by hand. With a complimentary aperitif on arrival and BYO drinks (with no corkage charge), every meal feels like a true celebration of place.

The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe

A short distance from Bruton, The Three Horseshoes offers a warm embrace of tradition. With its inviting atmosphere and locally brewed ales, this rural pub becomes a meeting place for all, where locals and visitors come together over hearty meals and handcrafted drinks. It’s the embodiment of Somerset hospitality: a welcoming spirit that lingers long after you’ve left.

 

Botanical Room

Set within The Newt in Somerset, The Botanical Rooms offer an extraordinary dining experience in two distinct, immersive spaces. The Oak Room, once the original billiards room of the house, is an intimate dining area with leather banquette seating, adorned with dried botanicals from the gardens of the sister estate, Babylonstoren. In contrast, The Glass Room provides a light-filled space, surrounded by orange trees and shrubbery — perfect for a relaxing lunch or dinner. The seasonal, modern British menu showcases estate-reared British White beef, lamb, and venison, along with fresh market garden vegetables, Dorset day-boat fish, and foraged ingredients from the hedgerows and woodland. Non-members and non-hotel residents are welcome with advance booking. Upon arrival, follow the signs to the Hotel.

OSIP

At OSIP, dining becomes a meditation. The Michelin-starred restaurant, led by chef Merlin Labron-Johnson, is a testament to the beauty of Somerset’s land and the slower pace of life here.. With a menu that changes with the seasons, OSIP invites guests to place their trust in the kitchen, where each bite is an expression of nature’s gifts. There is a quiet elegance to the experience, where dining becomes a mindful ritual, honouring the land and the simple, profound pleasures it provides.

The Old Pharmacy

There’s something soothing about the simplicity of The Old Pharmacy — a place that feels both nostalgic and new. With a menu built on wholesome, locally sourced foods, it’s a gathering place for both locals and travellers, a community hub where conversation and food flow as naturally as the river that winds through the town.

The Garden Café

Surrounded by the vibrant kitchen gardens and orchards of The Newt in Somerset, the Garden Café’s seasonal, vegetable-led menu reflects the land’s bounty. Offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week, each dish is inspired by the surrounding landscape, making it a true celebration of Somerset’s natural beauty. With every table offering a glimpse of the gardens below, it’s the perfect spot to relax and enjoy fresh, locally sourced food. Please note, the Garden Café is exclusively bookable for Newt Members.

Briar

At Briar, Chef Sam Lomas creates dishes that honour the land’s rhythms and seasons. With a background shaped by River Cottage and Glebe House, Sam’s approach is rooted in craft — celebrating simplicity, integrity, and the art of preservation. His food reflects a deep respect for ingredients, sourced thoughtfully and prepared with intention, inviting guests to taste the connection between nature’s bounty and the West Country’s wild, untouched landscapes.

Roth Bar & Grill

At Roth, you are invited to witness the beauty of art and food converging. Situated within the grounds of the renowned Hauser & Wirth gallery, dining here feels like an immersive experience, where fresh, seasonal ingredients meet thoughtful, innovative culinary artistry. Each dish carries with it the essence of Somerset, sourced from local farms and thoughtfully prepared. 

Higher Farm

A short drive from Bruton, Higher Farm is a unique, regenerative farm that embodies a vision for a healthier and more sustainable food system. Located across 50 acres of land, it focuses on working in harmony with nature to replace industrial farming practices with systems that regenerate the environment, restore human health, and support the local economy. The farm's restaurant offers a true farm-to-table experience, but with a twist: instead of bringing the farm to the table, they bring the table to the farm. The menus change weekly, shaped by what is growing seasonally, and feature produce grown on the farm alongside ingredients sourced from local farmers, foragers, and gamekeepers.

 

Where to Stay: A Sanctuary for the Soul

In Bruton, rest is more than just sleep — it’s an immersion into the rhythms of the land, the seasons, and the community. Whether you seek the quiet luxury of a boutique hotel or the rustic charm of a countryside retreat, each place to stay offers a unique connection to the heart of Somerset.

At The Chapel

A former chapel transformed into a boutique hotel, At The Chapel offers an experience steeped in both history and modern charm. With its stunning architecture, peaceful atmosphere, and focus on local ingredients, this unique retreat is a place where time seems to slow down. Here, every detail has been designed to help you connect—whether with the landscape, the food, or the people you meet along the way.

Number One Bruton

Comprising a thoughtfully restored Georgian townhouse, medieval forge, and a row of charming cottages, Number One Bruton is a twelve-bedroom hotel and restaurant nestled around a serene private courtyard. At its core, the space honors Somerset’s rich craft heritage, artistry, and culture, offering a peaceful retreat from the fast pace of city life. The carefully curated design blends historical character with modern comforts, creating a tranquil haven that invites guests to slow down and connect with the spirit of the land.

The Newt in Somerset

Beloved by locals and those seeking an immersive escape into the countryside, the Newt is a sanctuary in the truest sense: a place where the spirit of the land is woven into every corner of the estate. With its expansive gardens, tranquil atmosphere, and elegant accommodations, The Newt invites you to lose yourself in nature’s embrace. It’s a place of healing and restoration, where you’ll find solace in the beauty of the earth and a deeper connection to the community around you.

The Three Horseshoes, Batcombe

If you seek a more intimate, rustic stay, The Three Horseshoes in Batcombe offers the perfect countryside retreat. This cozy inn, with its warm hearth and inviting rooms, feels like stepping into the heart of Somerset’s pastoral life. Here, every moment is a reminder of the simplicity and beauty that comes with living close to nature.

Local Businesses & Shops: A Celebration of Craft and Community

The cobblestone streets of Bruton are lined with beautiful shops and artisan workshops. Whether you’re shopping for handmade goods, locally sourced produce, or something to take home as a memento, each shop feels like a small tribute to the people and the land that make Bruton so special.

Commune

Nestled in the heart of Somerset, Commune draws profound inspiration from the county's rich natural heritage and mystic roots. Taking a perfumer’s approach to each of their self-care formulation, their fragrances are natural, plant-based, and free from artificial ingredients, including parabens, sulfates and other harsh chemicals. Each product is crafted with a dedication to sustainability, and a desire to foster connection to each other and our shared world.

 

Pilton Cider

This family-run business creates craft whole-juice ciders from the bittersweet apples that grow in the ancient orchards surrounding the parish of Pilton. Using the time-honored artisan method of keeving, the juice is transformed into naturally sweet, flavorful ciders that sing with the essence of the earth. With subtle infusions of wild yeasts, fruits, and the magic of barrel-aging, each small-batch creation is a potion of Somerset, capturing the beauty of the region in every drop.

Hauser & Wirth

Set in a former farmstead, this Bruton gallery is one of Hauser & Wirth’s most distinctive locations, blending contemporary art with the pastoral beauty of the English countryside. It has become a cultural hub, offering a range of exhibitions, performances, and learning opportunities, all in an environment that is as inspiring as the art it houses. Established in 1992 by Iwan and Manuela Wirth, along with Ursula Hauser, the gallery represents both established and emerging artists across various mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and installations.

New Romantic

New Romantic was born from a love of collecting antiques and unique homewares, blending the old with the new to create spaces that feel deeply personal. Inspired by the literary Romantics, who revered nature and individuality, the brand embraces design that reflects both past and present, rooted in emotion and sustainability. Founded by Charlotte Melling, an experienced Interior and Fashion Stylist, New Romantic creates homes that are timeless, without waste, and filled with a sense of nostalgia for generations to come.

Somerset Farm Shop

A visit to Somerset Farm Shop is a pilgrimage to the very heart of the land. With its carefully selected array of local produce, from fresh vegetables and honey to artisanal cheeses and wines, this is the place to taste the soul of Somerset. The Farm Shop is a testament to the deep connection between the land and its people, where you can gather the earth’s offerings and take a piece of Somerset home with you.

Westcombe Dairy

At Westcombe Dairy, cheese-making is an art passed down through generations. Here, the raw milk from their own cows is transformed into heavenly cheeses like the clothbound Westcombe Cheddar, Duckett’s Aged Caerphilly, and creamy Ricotta — each one a reflection of the region's timeless beauty. Westcombe also crafts exquisite charcuterie, melding veal from their own farm with pork from Gothelney Farm to create salamis, saucisson, and more.

 

Bo Lee & Workman

Established in 2009 as bo.lee gallery, Bo Lee and Workman has rapidly gained recognition as one of the leading UK commercial galleries outside of London. In 2023, the gallery opened a permanent space in Bruton inside a beautifully restored former Methodist church on the High Street. The gallery combines contemporary art with the building's historic charm, creating a dynamic and inspiring space for both the local community and a wider audience.

Bureau Bruton

Down at the end of Grove Alley you’ll find Bureau Bruton, a refined showroom offering an exquisite, design-led selection of vintage and antique homeware, furniture, and art. With a keen eye for timeless elegance and lasting quality, the shop caters to discerning interior designers and private clients, both across the UK and internationally. The collection is thoughtfully curated, featuring a blend of captivating shapes, intricate details, and exceptional craftsmanship. Each piece is chosen for its beauty and longevity, allowing you to shop sustainably while acquiring distinctive treasures for your home. 

Philo & Philo 

Philo & Philo is a charming vintage homeware shop located on the High Street in Bruton, brought to life by Celia and Frankie, a dynamic mother-daughter duo. Combining their shared passion for interiors, design, art, and lifestyle, they’ve created a space that reflects their love for unique, timeless objects. Philo & Philo offers a playful and fun approach to homemaking, inviting customers to explore an eclectic mix of carefully curated pieces that bring character and style to any home. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, a visit to Philo & Philo promises to inspire and help make your space feel uniquely yours.

Bruton’s charm extends beyond these establishments to include neighboring businesses like Rose & Lyons, SMOUK Interiors, Wellness Works West, Rag of Colts, and Swan Vintage. Each contributes to the town’s vibrant community, offering visitors a chance to experience the local culture and become part of Bruton’s ongoing story.