A place of wonderment
Winter Magic
As the festive whirlwind swirls all around, we like to take a moment to breathe in the quiet, painterly beauty of the gardens in winter. Soft tones, arctic blues, bonelike branches andwatery sunshine. Our gardeners are tucking up tender plants and sowing seeds for vibrant new life to burst through come springtime. Now’s the time to steal a few days (or hours) of solace. Float in the Spa, share in the joy of Sunday lunch with friends, sip cocktails by the fire and dream up perfect presents. These are the days to delight in and savour.
A country estate reimagined
The Newt in Somerset has a Georgian core. Limestone buildings the colour of burnt honey sustained the Hobhouse family for over two centuries. Hadspen House and the Farmyard nestle quietly among orchards, lakes, fields and woodland that reflect Somerset; and love lavished upon them over the past 300 years.Guests are invited to take pleasure in the simple joys of country living; to make themselves at home.
a home to relax
Hadspen is home to unique rooms in the original Georgian house, many with exquisite views over the garden. Luxurious rooms in its Stable Yard celebrate their heritage as horse boxes, an 18th century coach house, farm buildings once storing hay and wool and charming Granary.
Sitting on the parameter between Hadspen House and the Farmyard is our self-contained cottage, the Gate Lodge.
enveloped by nature
Relax and recharge in the spa with its indoor-outdoor pool, steam room, sauna, salt rooms and treatment rooms. Escape to the warmth of the Turkish-inspired hammam for some thermal therapy, take a walk in the Medieval Herb Garden before a signature massage, or sweat out stress in the Gym while watching the gardeners tend to vegetables for supper.
food with flair at the botanical rooms
Enjoy elegant and seasonal dining, inspired by and gathered from your surroundings. Head Chef George Barson invites you to feast on estate vegetables, the choicest cuts from the salt room and dayboat fish from the Dorset coast. Savour the full three courses, paired with Fine Cyder or something special from the house cellar.
Tucked away
rest & relaxation
Cupped in a sun-drenched combe, the Farmyard is a hideaway to kick back, read, sleep, breathe - far from the madding crowd.
Original farm buildings with a delightfully golden patina are home to stylish rooms, a pool, serve-yourself bar, snug and all-day kitchen. Bikes and buggies provide ample opportunity for getting over to the gardens, the spa and house at Hadspen.
made to share at farmyard kitchen
Experience creative dishes worth sharing at Farmyard Kitchen. Located in an old Threshing Barn at the beating heart of Farmyard, Chef Allan Altschul and team serve cheering wood-fired fare using ingredients grown, foraged and reared on the estate.
Delight the senses
gardens to inspire
Mixing ornamental and productive elements, our gardens are a feast for the eyes and stomach. Each area of the garden has been meticulously researched to bring the estate’s past to life and tell a story of gardening through the ages. Discover a Cottage Garden celebrating the Arts and Crafts movement, lose yourself in a Baroque-inspired apple tree maze, and take in structure and evocative scent in the Victorian Fragrance Garden.
seasons to be cheerful
From a labyrinth of topiary in winter to the lingering scent of unashamedly romantic roses in summer, the Four Seasons Garden is a celebration of each season. The connecting gardens are designed to peak in spring, summer, autumn or winter and provide fleeting splendour at the opportune moment. The winter garden is perhaps the most surprising of them all – set to beguile, with its snow white gravel set against the sculptural topiary shapes of the dark yews. It speaks of eternal winter, with a sprinkling of magic; somewhere you might find on a trip through Lucy’s wardrobe or on Alice’s adventures in Wonderland.
eat the view
Enveloped by the gardens, the Garden Café celebrates everything you can see out of the window on a clear day. Our growers gather the finest fresh ingredients from our productive gardens daily, which we serve alongside the best of produce from the estate Butchery, Bakery, The Creamery, Farm Shop and local artisans in Somerset beyond.
The Farm Shop will be transformed into a treasure trove of luxurious gifts, produce and treats and our House & Garden Shop filled with heartwarming hampers, cosy homewares and garden essentials – all available online. Dig into celebratory menus with loved ones at our estate eateries before a new year brings nourishing, restorative dishes to see us through the winter cold. shop somerset
villa ventorum
A unique chance to step back in time and see inside a reimagined Romano-British villa and interactive visitor centre, inspired by the unearthing of a settlement dating back to 351AD on the estate.
the
story of gardening
Dig into the history of gardening throughout time and get hands on with soil, scent and a world of design - inspiring budding botanists of all ages. Interactive exhibits transport you to the world’s most famous gardens, from the Taj Mahal in Agra to Monet’s Garden in Giverny.
Nestled in the woodland, surrounded by a specially planted Apiary, the Beezantium explores the intricate connections between bees, the land and us humans. You’ll learn about precious pollinators and see a selection of our wild bee colonies in observation hives. beezantium
beyond the gardens
Our first venture outside of the estate gardens, The Creamery can be found less than 10-minutes’ drive away at Castle Cary station. A working dairy and trackside restaurant with tranquil garden, it’s the perfect pit stop for visitors arriving by train. Pop in for hearty British classics at breakfast, lunch and dinner, alongside myriad grab-and-go goodies for your journey.
The original Edwardian buildings have been meticulously restored, with interiors evoking the spirit of ‘La Belle Époque’ and the golden age of the Great British railway. Traditional cheesemaking using fresh milk from our herd of water buffalo is at The Creamery’s heart, with floor-to-ceiling windows allowing views of our artisans at work, and signature Somerset cheese and yoghurt being celebrated on our menus. There’s also a Farm Shop to stock up on Newt essentials to take home.
To
appreciate the beauty of a snowflake, it is necessary to stand out in the cold.
– Aristotle
a season to celebrate
That festive feeling is sweeping across the Newt in Somerset, as plans continue apace to make this year’s winter festivities more magical than ever. Expect the heady scent of spiced mulled cyder wafting through the Courtyard, sensational seasonal displays popping up in the Threshing Barn to help tick off your lists, and chefs going all in on the flavours of the season on festive menus and our burgeoning grocery range online.
Our Somerset estate will be transformed into a wonderland for festive shopping sprees with a Christmas Extravaganza over the weekend of 7 - 8 December. The highlight for children will be an enchanting visit to St Nicholas at the Gardener’s Cottage to receive a special gift. Decorations will be out in full and little ones can race around majestic giants in search of clues on our Winter Trail. If you’re not already a Newt member, it’s the most wonderful time of the year to join!
stay for christmas & new year
Pack up your finery, walking boots and those you hold dear for fournights of feasting, memorable touches and cyder-fuelled festivities over Christmas, or three-nights of jollity (including our Hadspen House Party and entry to our annual New Year’s Day Croquet Championship) to see in the New Year.
