The Newt in Somerset named the UK's best boutique hotel

26-Nov-2021 - Last updated on 26-Nov-2021 at 15:24 GMT

Image: www.thenewtinsomerset.com

Related tags The Newt Hotel Top 50 Boutique Hotels

The Newt in Somerset has been crowned the best boutique hotel in the UK.

The hotel is set in a Georgian limestone building that has been the seat of the Hobhouse family for more than two centuries and is located within a working country estate of woodland and gardens.

The Newt is known for its blend of traditional and modern architecture. The main house was built in the 17th century before being remodelled in Georgian times with the house and its Stable Yard having 23 guest rooms.

Rooms have been converted from former stables and 18^th century farm buildings into luxury suites including what was originally a grain store for the farm, with features including roll top baths and wood-burning stoves.

The hotel also has a farmyard beyond its cyder orchards with the original buildings converted into 17 rooms as well as a pool, bar, snug and all-day kitchen.

“We're incredibly proud and shocked to have received first place. We're still very new to the scene, so it's incredible to get such recognition from the industry,” says the hotel’s head of communications Jessica Parkhouse.

“We like to think we offer guests the complete package and it’s great that people are getting what we're doing.

“You can create a beautiful space and rooms, which we have, and are custodians of our land, but it’s the people in our team that really create that guest experience.

“We're quite geeky about what we do, from butchers and bakers to cheesemakers and cidermakers - everyone in our team is so passionate and enthusiastic; and it’s them that make The Newt so special.”

The hotel picked up the award at the Top 50 Boutique Hotels event, sponsored by Taylors of Harrogate, held at Andrew Pern's the Star in the City in York yesterday (25 November).

The south east of England leads the way when it comes to staying over in style with 17 of the top 50 spots, closely followed by the south west with 14. However, the north of England is rapidly growing in popularity with 15 of the list and Scotland with four.

Other winners include Yorebridge House in Bainbridge that picked up the Service Award; Links House at Royal Dornoch in Dornoch, which was named Unique Experience Award Winner; and Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms in Lancashire, the location for Mark Birchall’s award-winning two Michelin-starred restaurant, which was crowned Food & Drink Award Winner.

The list was created thanks to an academy of voters made up of hoteliers, industry experts, travel writers and influencers, who all voted for their top operations in order of preference.

The Top 50 Boutique Hotel list follows on from the success of the Top 50 Cocktail Bars and the long running and ever-popular Top 50 Gastropubs, offering consumers the definitive guide to where to eat, drink and now sleep throughout the UK.

The Top 50 Boutique Hotels list: 