At the Chapel

Rooms

On our first visit, we were lucky enough to stay in the fabulous Attic Suite. An enormous space with eaved ceilings, weathered wood beams and lots of light, it felt like an apartment, with a bedroom, bathroom and living area. The kingsize bed was superbly comfortable, piled high with pillows, and you could lie in bed and look out to the National Trust’s Dovecote building on the opposite hill. Then you could wallow in the double-ended bathtub and try all the Ren toiletries (there’s a walk-in shower, too). Wrap up in a White Company robe and pad out to the living area, where a long leather sofa and vast TV await. Should you want to escape the world, you could order up pizza and watch one of the hard-drive movies. Each room features an artist, with a couple of their works and a coffee-table book to read about them. Ours was Louise Bourgeois and it was amazing to be surrounded by her renowned works.

Room 2 and Room 3 were also favourites of ours (both Mediums); high-ceilinged with a stunning 19th-century Lancet window and a vast bathroom with a walk-in shower, and additional freestanding bath in Room 2. Room 3 (a Medium) had glorious views over the 12th-century Saxon town rooftops, while Room 1 (a Medium) looks onto Bruton’s iconic 16th century Dovecote. Room 4 (a Small) was a cosy retreat with eaved ceilings, a mullioned window, and all the contemporary comforts of the larger rooms, so it’s great value.

The 3 newest rooms all have showers and baths. Room 6 has an enormous bathroom window with south-facing views of the 12th-century church; Room 7 has ground-floor access (so is suitable for those with mobility issues) and can be made up as a twin (both Mediums). On a more recent visit, we stayed in Room 8 (a Large) on the lowest level, with a cool moss-green chaise longue, big calfskin rug, and a private garden terrace. It was a total treat.

Features include:

• Minibar/fridge
• WiFi

Eating

A café/restaurant before it was a hotel, At the Chapel’s food is excellent, down to earth and reasonably priced. Most of it is locally reared and sourced (fish from Lyme Bay, salad leaves from Charles Dowding’s biodynamic farm) or made on-site in the bakery, which features an enormous wood-fired oven made from restored cellar bricks. Enjoy all day dining either inside in the former chapel or on the alfresco terrace (heaters and blankets supplied).

We experienced a flawless dining experience. For lunch we chose salads: juicy figs with creamy mozzarella and rocket, and flavoursome beetroot, goat’s cheese and walnuts. Served with homemade bread and accompanied by delicious chilled rosé, they were perfect for a summer’s day. For dinner, we were genuinely wowed by the cauliflower arancini for starters, and the wood-fired sourdough pizzas for our main – paired with a rich Rioja of course. To finish? A heavenly salted caramel fondant with vanilla gelato.

Breakfast is giant croissants from the on-site bakery, which are left in a bag outside your bedroom; homemade strawberry jam and Somerset butter await in your fridge. Check out isn't until 12pm, so they make for a perfect lie-in and lazy morning. If you’re left hungry (we weren't), head downstairs and order Somerset ham with fried eggs or a Sandridge Farm bacon sandwich on sourdough.

Features include:

• Children's meals
• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Stroll around Bruton, and explore its delis, antique stores, quirky shops, museum and beautiful architecture. The National Trust's famous Dovecote is on a hill just behind the property, an easy walk away
  
  
• Visit contemporary art space Hauser & Wirth on the edge of town. Younger sibling to the Hauser & Wirth galleries in Zurich and New York, it's being widely touted as the art world's next big thing
  
  
• Nearby Frome is gorgeous, a small market town with great cafés, historic architecture and a surprising abundance of vintage boutiques. It hosts an excellent artisan market on the first Sunday of every month
  
  
• Go walking. Many footpaths weave their way through Bruton and the surrounding countryside, including the Leyland Trail and Macmillan Way; Bruton makes a perfect centre
  
  
• Stourhead's stunning garden is not to be missed; this 18th-century landscaped garden reflects the seasons like no other and is full of mock-Roman temples and hidden grottos - perfect picnic (and proposal!) spots
  
  
• About 5 miles to the southwest of Bruton is Cadbury Castle, the reputed site of Camelot; to the northwest is pretty Glastonbury, the fabled Avalon, which would suggest that that King Arthur may have visited the town at some time in the 5th or 6th century. Make a pilgrimage up Glastonbury Tor, a grassy mound topped by the remains of the medieval church of St Michael
  
  
• Spend the day at Longleat Safari Park (30 minutes' drive) where there are animals to meet, games to play and mazes to get lost in - not to mention an enormous house to explore
  
  
• At certain times of year, the nearby town of Shepton Mallet plays host to one of the largest antiques and flea markets in the country. With stalls selling anything from tea sets and books to kitchen units and chairs, it’s a thrifter’s paradise
  
  
• Head to Wincanton for a day at the races
  
  
• Beautiful Bath is within day-tripping distance - we love its boutique shops, buzzy street market scene and the famous Roman Baths

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Hiking
• Shopping / markets
• Wildlife

Kids

This is a welcoming place for families, although it's probably best suited to couples. The restaurant has a buzzy, informal atmosphere and the à la carte menu has options kids will like, including pizza and ice cream. Baby monitors will reach.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

All rooms can fit a baby cot. The Loft Suite and Dovecote Suite are best for larger families with a double sofabed in the living area plus space for a baby cot, plus they have a bath as well as a walk-in shower. The larger rooms can accommodate an extra bed for a child up to 12 years old.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Hospital: 20-30 minutes
• Shops: 1 minute

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

At the Chapel is set in Bruton, near the Somerset/Wiltshire border in the southwest of England. It's an hour from Bristol, and 2 hours from London.

By Air:
Fly into Bristol (48km away) or one of the London airports. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport
We'd recommend hiring a car (see below).

By Car:
For car hire see our car rental recommendations. The hotel has a small car park.

By Train:
Bruton rail station is a 10-minute walk from the hotel and a 2-3-hour journey from London Paddington.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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