Such a fun weekend
This time last year we were trying to get away somewhere for our regular January jolly to celebrate Edward’s birthday. It was still not possible to travel abroad, so we’d booked a few days at The Newt, a newly opened hotel in Somerset. Of course, events got the better of us and our escape was postponed due to the lockdown. Not only that, but the rearranged date came and went and we were still not allowed to travel, so this time, it really was a case of third time lucky.
The hotel is set in a parkland estate near Bruton in Somerset and though it’s in a really rural setting, there’s the benefit of a pretty good train service from Paddington to Castle Cary. Here, there’s one of those stations where nothing much happens for some time and then suddenly, the train arrives and people and vehicles appear from every direction.
It was here that we met Amy and Edward from their train, having had an easy drive from home. It was a dreary January afternoon, but we were all looking forward to a relaxed, comfortable weekend, whatever the weather.
We left the car and wheeled our luggage (and Big Ted) to our rooms, which were both in the Stables.
This little collection of rooms was just a short walk from the main house and opposite the spa. Very handy!
The main hotel building is in Hadspen House, just a bit further along.
We had Llamrei’s Stable downstairs, whilst the youngsters were upstairs in the Groom’s Loft.
Come on in.
Inside really is a stable - still - with rough wooden “walls” and the original fittings.
Immediately on the left is a small sitting area, with a sofa and simple desk space.
Straight ahead is a basic dining area and turn left there into a compact kitchen space.
With a hob, fridge, kettle and coffee machine, it would be possible to create a quick meal though with an amazing restaurant just a short walk away, I’m not sure why you would want to.
The bed and wardrobe area is in the next stall, separated from the kitchen/dining space by one of the wooden stable dividers. It’s a perfectly comfortable set up. There’s a large TV on the wall opposite and a reminder of the stable’s previous inhabitants there on the wall. I’ll return to the curious collection of artwork in another post, but you may have spotted a couple of small pictures above the hob in the previous picture?
There’s another one of those on the mantelpiece in the bathroom. At first, I thought it was just a small trinket-y thing, propped against the wall, but no, it was fixed to the wall and intentionally placed, off centre. Interesting. (I wonder if it was covering something up?) The bathroom is huge and a little “hard” with few comforts beyond the woodburner (set ready to light daily)
My main difficulty was the lack of a surface on which to put things. The wash handbasin was not much more than a foot in diameter and stood separately in one corner. Now, where to balance my contact lenses, any little pots and bottles, make-up and all the other paraphernalia that one needs on hand when in there? I overcame the “bare feet on a stone floor in January” by standing on a fluffy towel, but really, this was not a bathroom in which to linger. I made the most of the rather more comfortable facilities over the way in the spa after my swim each day then!
Did you notice the two artworks on the mirror, down there near the skirting board? Interesting placement, don’t you agree?
So, were we comfortable in our stable? Well, comfortable-ish. In a cool, designer sort of way, that is. The room had everything we could wish for: plenty of fluffy towels, a fridge full of complimentary drinks, good hanging space, Dyson hairdryer and curling irons, a comfortable bed with lovely linen plus the usual huge TV and wifi. The temperature was easily controlled with radiators and the woodburner and there was a fan in the wardrobe if the temperature turned tropical.
But…yes, you sensed the but, I’m sure.
The cold hard floors were hard on bare feet, especially the chunky square setts in the main part of the room. The bed was set on a coir mat and on more than one occasion, I wished that had been a similar sheepskin to the one by the sofa. Just a little more cosiness would have gone a long way. In particular, the bathroom was not at all user-friendly, even though there was loads of hot water and everything we might need. I wondered if the designer had ever stayed in the room or used the bathroom themselves? Last but not least, that sitting area with the sofa lacked a focus. No TV in that space, nor was there any art save for the horseshoe. It felt a bit in need of some …I’m going to say “warmth” again!
But let me not end with the impression that our weekend was anything short of amazing. It will take me a couple of posts to share all the truly spectacular aspects of the place, because minor mutters about our room aside, The Newt is a remarkable place to visit and, if possible, to stay.
Were we twenty years younger, we’d probably love Llamrei’s Stable too!
