Artistic town is ‘new Notting Hill’ with independent shops | UK | Travel

Tucked away in Somerset, surrounded by nothing but vast rolling hills, is a town that has quite the cool reputation for its shopping and dining hot spots. Dubbed as « the new Notting Hill », Bruton in Somerset is a town worth visiting, just 45 minutes outside of Bath and a two-hour train ride from London. It stands as a hub for artistic types, with plenty of ultimate foodie destinations, independent shops, galleries and constant pop-ups and creative collaborations taking over the  town. 

The River Brue, which the town is named after, flows through the centre, while the rest of its countryside landscape is home to a number of historic buildings. In fact, it was once the home of the renowned American author, John Steinbeck, who described the town as a place with « goodness » and « something that clears your eyes ».

Restaurants

People often flock to Bruton to get a taste of its local flavours, with an impressive number of Michelin-recognised restaurants in its centre. There is something to please everyone’s palettes, from fine dining to casual brunch spots and traditional pub grub, for every occasion. 

Osip is one of those establishments, serving cosy « farm to table » meals, all cultivated on their very own farm, using seasonal ingredients. Leading the place to success is one of the country’s youngest Michelin-starred chefs, Merlin Labron-Johnson.

A recent diner described their experience on TripAdvisor, claiming: « Really rather fantastic. Truly exquisite food: very special, very delicious. Gorgeous setting, lovely decor, amazing staff. »

Joining it in the Michelin world is Briar, which sits within the hotel, Number One Bruton, and currently ranks as the top-rated place to eat in the town, according to its reviews. One customer shared: « I’ve been twice now, and both times have been exceptional! I couldn’t fault any of the food, drinks or service! All of which was a 10/10. We will be back again. »

Away from its higher-end establishments, Bruton is home to a number of quaint cafes and pubs, offering a place to stop for a spot of tea or a quick bite to eat in the daytime. When mooching around the high street, you’ll spot an array of options, from the Stripy Duck Café & Bookshop to Dessi Cafe to restaurants like Matt’s Kitchen and The Old Pharmacy. 

Historic sites

While it’s an incredibly rural town, immersed in the Somerset countryside, the town has a number of landmark buildings dotted around it for history buffs keen to explore. One of those buildings is King Alfred’s Tower, which stands alone rather imposingly over the land beneath it and is protected by the National Trust.

Designed by Henry Flitcroft in 1772, it was crafted to commemorate the end of war, on the site believed to have been the exact place that King Alfred rallied his troops. There isn’t much function to the building; instead, it was built rather as a monument and has since become a go-to walking spot in Somerset, thanks to its panoramic views.

Another tall structure, frequented by those visiting the town, is the Bruton Dovecote – a limestone tower that once formed part of the Bruton Abbey. Although in the 18th century it was transformed into a place to house pigeons and doves, which its great height helps with.

One visitor described it saying: « An interesting old dovecote with various stories of who, what, and when it was used for/as. Nonetheless, good views and good access for those able to climb, as there’s a small hill. »

A testimony to the town’s artistic scene is the internationally renowned gallery which opened in Bruton in 2014, Hauser & Wirth. The gallery has locations in some of the world’s most major cities, including New York and Hong Kong, so to have Somerset host a site here helped draw in creative people to the town. 

Shopping

Like any artsy town, Bruton is home to a wide variety of independent shops, sitting on its vibrant high street. There are a number of cosy shops selling everything from homeware to clothing, crafts, food, books and more, and the businesses bond together nicely to form a welcoming community hub. 

A number of these buildings belong to farm shops, selling tasty local produce at fair prices. From Durslade Farm Shop to Godminster Cheese and The Farm Shop sitting on the outskirts of the village, locals can take their pick from a whole range of goods.

Amongst the shopping gems are The Record Room, a traditional record store, and Rose & Lyons, selling handpicked clothing and accessories. As well as this, visitors can pop into Spirals, the trendy homeware store, and BelovedBruton, a vintage store selling second-hand clothing items. 

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