thenewtinsomerset.com Reviews 

I booked and pre paid for three nights at the Newt in early July. Unfortunately I had a nasty accident on our second day walking down the gravel drive after having parked our car in the car park about 5:30pm. My foot (I was wearing flat loafers) got caught on the edge of these huge square indents keeping the gravel in place and my ankle gave, ended up in a trimalleolar fracture which resulted in major surgery. Head of Experience was on site at the time and gave us support and help with another duty staff. I could not move my injured leg at all as it was in so much pain. It was quite obvious it was a serious injury. We were advised to drive straight to A & E at Yeovil NHS. We did not get back to the Newt until midnight. There was no help awaiting us, no number to call except a night duty staff and it was quite problematic getting back to our room with my leg in a temporary cast. A cold supper was left in our bedroom. We left next morning after breakfast (delivered to our room) for London to seek medical help. Although Head of Experience kept in touch with my husband on text, there was no offer of refunding our last night which we did not stay for, or even an offer of something in the future. I received the usual stay review online, and I said it was the least they could do was to refund the last night. Only then did they refund. Our son & daughter in law also stayed there a few weeks after my accident, and Head of Experience was aware- there were no special niceties at all, even when they knew they just got married. I recently wrote to the GM to ask if he heard about my accident but no reply. I understand they might be concerned of being liable, but no reply at all? I only want to suggest that they should put in more safety measures as I would not wish this on anyone. The Farmyard area has a lot of different levels on a hill with stone pathways but NO railing. All very charming. The gravel driveway which is on a slope also does not have a designated pedestrian sidewalk with railing. So in wet weather, could be dangerous. Certainly not ideal for the elderly. Disappointing guest experience, so it is not the establishment I thought it was?

**Two stars—and honestly, that feels generous**

The Newt is undeniably beautiful, and the rooms are very nicely designed. My massage was also excellent. Unfortunately, those were the only real positives of what was meant to be a romantic birthday stay.

Our original Coach House room felt extremely exposed and offered very little peace or privacy. Children were running around in the accommodation above us and playing directly outside our door. After complaining, we were moved to a Stable Room, which was much better, but only for one night. We were told it was already booked for the following night, so we would have to move yet again and potentially pay more for another room.

The spa was equally disappointing. Although my massage was wonderful, I went to the pool afterward hoping to continue relaxing and was met by children jumping and playing in the water. There was no genuinely quiet, adults-only place to unwind. Children seemed to be everywhere throughout the stay, which is completely at odds with the peaceful, romantic luxury experience we believed we had booked.

The food was awful and the dining experience nowhere near the standard expected at this price. The menus online differed from those available during our stay. At lunch, a dish described as cheese with pickled vegetables arrived as cheese and meat with a few lettuce leaves and a dollop of red cabbage. At dinner, the menu was extremely limited and heavily vegetable-led, and by approximately 8:00 pm they had completely run out of several of the few dishes we wanted. Even the children’s menu offered little more than basic pasta with tomato sauce and cheddar cheese, so there was no worthwhile alternative.

Most of the estate experiences were already unavailable, leaving very little to do beyond walking around the grounds. We were also surprised to discover that the gardens are open to members of the public. There is nothing wrong with public access, but it does undermine the sense of privacy and exclusivity conveyed by the hotel’s luxury positioning.

Because the move to the Stable Room was only temporary and we did not want to move yet again and pay more, we decided to leave a day early. We asked only to be released from payment for the unused final night. We were not asking for the entire stay to be refunded and were prepared to accept the cost of the disappointing food and everything else we had used.

The hotel refused completely. At checkout, we received no refund, no adjustment for the poor meal, no spa credit and not even a small gesture of goodwill. Management simply allowed us to leave extremely unhappy while charging us for a night we did not use.

For a hotel at this price point, the lack of service recovery was astonishing. Beautiful design and grounds cannot compensate for poor food, a lack of tranquillity, unavailable experiences and management that shows no interest in resolving a guest’s concerns.

This is not the private, peaceful or romantic luxury retreat its marketing led us to expect. It felt much more like an expensive family-oriented estate attraction with hotel rooms attached. Two stars is generous, and we would not return.

We needed to contact the hotel urgently on a Sunday early evening ( 7pm) regarding a booking but frustratingly the recorded message which asks us to hold or call back is never answered. For a hotel with restaurants this is unreal

We went to celebrate a birthday lunch.
Although we enjoyed the surroundings the food was overpriced and not exceptional.The vegetarian option was a disappointment.
The baked cream desert was missing black cardamoms and when I enquired about it the waitress pointed to the orange strands of saffron !
The highlight for us was the quality of the cider which was a revelation .

Not an in-person visit but an Online one.

The customer service team were so incredibly helpful.

We visited The Newt as we were staying in the area and visiting Longleat the following day. I have RHS membership and my daughter has a student membership too so we could visit using this as it is a partnership garden. Unfortunately my daughter didn't have her membership card, when we explained the lady at the entrance laughed and said she'd have to sit under the tree then (she is 19 years old) we thought she was joking and would happily have supplied evidence of membership but were promptly told we had to pay for 2 to enter (my daughter and my husband) instead of paying for 1 as I expected. It is a shame as it is a beautiful place to visit and very much spoiled the start, having also driven for 3 hours to get there. My daughter felt quite shocked and disrespected by this, why would we say she had student membership if she didn't, I would have said please make sure you bring it next time and given us the customer service we very much expected.
Upon learning they support and promote the violent and inhumane hunting of foxes and deer on their premises, we deeply regret visiting in the first place and we will definitely never be returning. Stay away from this place if you have morals

Went to the Creamery for lunch, was shown a table. However 10 minutes later, no one came to take the order. We left in disgust. I will not go back there and definitely do not recommend it. No service, obviously untrained staff.

The owners / management don’t seem bothered by reviews I see. After poor meals in 2 restaurants here we now just have coffee and ice cream ( yummy). I love walking here so we joined for another year. It’s a shame there is poor management though. At 4 seasons area the coffee shop had a notice “ back in 15 minutes” it was 11am ( prime coffee/ tea time) 3 ladies had been waiting 10 minutes so we waited - 30 minutes later and watching lots of customers check the door and walk off … we gave up too. It’s a long walk back to another area for refreshments. Poor show !! We bought ice cream before we left but the tables were all sticky / dirty which was encouraging lots of wasps . The lid of the bins is left wide open ( bad design) also lots of wasps. Very poor and such a shame that standards are pretty bad. I do find the staff friendly but it’s not really enough is it .

Disappointing lunch in The Garden Cafe today, two of us chose lamb from the menu. Whilst mine was just edible, my sister could only eat half of hers, as it was not ‘pink’ it was raw, the roast potatoes were dry and tasted as though they had been cooked the day before. However, we had more luck with our desserts, which were very enjoyable. We did mention this to one of the staff, but had no feedback other than a whispered ‘sorry’. This was my second meal at The Garden Cafe, after a fabulous first experience, today was very disappointing.

Bought for the 1st time as they sent me a voucher for a free veggie box. Bought some jams, bread , cakes and few things to snack on. The crackers were stale, teh cakes lacking flavours, the bread very average. I have left 2 stars as the packaging was superb. The veggies went mouldy after few days… much better quality at my local farm shop- should have stuck with them, instead for falling for marketing,

Great response from The Newt to a previous critical observation on Trust Pilot.
I had made a purchase from the online shop at The Newt, Somerset, in December 2024 and the service fell short of my expectations, so I wrote a constructively critical review on Trust Pilot and a similar review directly to The Newt at their request.
The response from The Newt customer service has been exceptionally positive and constructive, wherein The Newt has confirmed that my critical comment had been accepted and fell short of the high standard The Newt seeks to achieve and maintain.
The observation had been shared company-wide and had been made part of the training and development of staff at the on line shop.
It behoves me to write a similar acknowledgement of the enthusiasm of the whole team at The Newt, the professional and courteous response and their efforts to set and maintain the highest standard of service.
Thank you. I wish you well for the future.

The Newt is amazing. Their farm shop is beatifully curated and the quality is wonderful. Thoroughly recommend.

Shocked, disgusted and upset that this organisation is hosting the Chelsea Flower Show when they are known supporters of the BSV hunt. I could never return to this venue knowing they support such barbaric and inhumane killing of our wildlife.

Discovered they support and host fox hunting and deer hunting with dogs. Not on my money you don't .. will not be returning.

I ordered Hollis Mead milk from their shop, they get it from Hollis Mead with 7-10 days expiry left.

Delivered today at a temperature of 7 to 12 degrees Celsius with 2 days expiry left, use by 6th May 2024.

This is a location that supports & indeed hosts the hunting of deer & foxes on its land by The BSV hunt. This is the same hunt that was exposed by Channel 4 for allowing their hounds to rip a fox apart.
If you happen to like wildlife - I suggest you vote with your feet & avoid this place

I simply cannot recommend any organisation that supports animal abuse. By allowing the BAV to hunt on its land the Newt is complicit in this

Having visited Babylonstoren, I was keen to get hold of the wine! 18 bottled delivered next day, very well packaged and delicious!

I took my partner for a birthday lunch as she was really keen to go.the experience was not as expected. We were slightly early, even allowing for the long walk to the hotel. The bar was not what we expected and quite impersonal with no character but despite the drinks being expensive there were no nibbles presented not even a crisp! The restaurant was again not well planned with me seated looking at the wall and my partner on a banquette which was too low and the table very small. The food was nice but didn’t realise that if you ordered the pork chop it would only come with lettuce leaves!
Would not go back again, overpriced and pretentious

I stumbled upon this website when I googled for pasture raised farm eggs and thought it must be too good to be true.A box of 12 eggs for £5.20 delivered to Central London for free on a day and a 2hr time slot of my choice.I took the plunge with ordering 3x12 eggs and they arrived on time by a super friendly delivery man who even bought up the order to my flat(live in an apartment block). A first as all other delivery people insist on leaving it with the concierge.

I am so delighted to have found this farm shop that has such competitive prices and free delivery and can not recommend it highly enough.