If you are a creative soul, have a fondness for unique bistros or are lucky enough to live in Somerset (biased here!), then you are probably already familiar with the town of Bruton. For those who are not, let me give you five reasons why you should drop in on your next jaunt to the South West.

If exceptional design shops, quirky lunch options and world-renowned art galleries are your thing, then it’s not to be missed!

1. World Renowned art gallery ‘Hauser and Wirth’ have a base in Bruton

With bases in London, New York, Los Angeles and Zuric, Bruton in Somerset may seem like an odd choice for this famous art gallery to choose as a home, but with Bruton’s artistic and hip crowd, it makes perfect sense.

“H Hauser & Wirth Somerset is a pioneering world-class gallery and multi-purpose arts center which acts as a destination for experiencing art, architecture, and the remarkable Somerset landscape through new and innovative exhibitions of contemporary art.”

It also hosts an on-site restaurant ‘Roth Bar and Grill’, serving seasonal, locally sourced produce and event nights. This is where the famous and cool come to party!

2. The dining rivals that of Notting Hill

Staying in the countryside doesn’t mean you are limited to fine dining. Bruton houses a number of superior restaurants and quirky bistros to choose from. If well-mixed cocktails and a Mediterranean approach to British food is your thing, then head to At the Chapel. This Grade II listed former chapel is an all-day restaurant and also offers B&B accommodation in eight contemporary and luxury bedrooms. Locals head here for stone-baked pizzas, film screenings and author talks.

Fancy something a bit more alternative? Then head over to Matt’s Kitchen. . Amazing chef Matthew Watson has made the most of Bruton’s foodie scene and turned his high street space into his very own public dining room. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings, he offers a set menu which varies daily and offers a variety of fabulous and fresh three course meals. The ‘Bring your own booze’ idea makes Matt’s Kitchen stand out from some other venues (and is a cheaper option too!).

If you fancy bumping into a celeb, head to the Roth Bar and Grill at Hauser and Wirth. Celeb’s spotted here include Rhys Ifans, fashion designer Phoebe Philo and Alice Temperley (both who own houses in Bruton).

3. Shop fashion and help raise funds for Charity

The FMLY store, brought to you by Selfish Mother, aka Molly Gunn, also calls Bruton home. Selfish Mother started life as a blogzine & morphed into The FMLY Store when Molly launched her signature MOTHER tee back in 2014, to raise funds for female survivors of war.

“Our ethos is that style shouldn’t just look good, but do good, too. Our #GoodTees raise money for GOOD causes (we’ve raised nearly £1 million, since we launched in 2014). They are also produced with a GOOD ethos – fair wear certified, organic cotton & sweatshop free! We lovingly package each order in plastic-free packaging & send from our awesome Somerset HQ. “

4. There is a Scandinavian design shop in Bruton that promotes slow living.

Caro is a lifestyle shop offering objects for life and home, sourced from around the globe. Caro’s ethos is to share with others the moments we all covet in life: sharing a cuppa and cake with a friend, writing dreams and memories in a beautifully bound book or snuggling down in a warm, cosy blanket. Created by Natalie Jones, a former trend forecaster and Londoner, Caro sells Danish designs including HAY and Aesop and also offers an interior design service if you wish to recreate her style in your own home. Caro is a far cry from the countryside corner shops found in most West Country towns. It screams style and is Green too!

5. Independent makers and designers call Bruton home

This mix of art crowd, celebs, hipsters and foodies has put Bruton on the map, which can only be a good thing for us creative country types!

Independent makers and designers now call Bruton home, which means us country folk can shop locally and source highly crafted and unique design pieces without travelling miles.

One of my favourite Bruton based designers is R Rag of Colts, also known as Caroline Strecker. These beautiful bags are entirely hand-made and hand stitched with vintage saddlery and repurposed English bridle leather pieces. Caroline recycles old leather and turns it into a beautiful object which will last a lifetime.

“For me, the recycling element is crucial. The patina, character and story being told in the old leather is far more precious and appealing than new leather. It’s a process that cannot be rushed. Despite it being more time consuming to source and repurpose vintage pieces, the results speak for themselves. Each bag I create has its own distinct look and no two are ever exactly alike.” Caroline Strecker

On top of all this, there’s cheese, wine, beer and the stunning Somerset countryside all around. What’s not to love…?

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