GLOBETROTTER
ALICE TEMPERLEY SHARES HER SOMERSET SECRETS
Fashion designer Alice Temperley on her Somerset stomping grounds
the darling of the Bohemian f loaty dress, Alice Temperley made her name with ethereal designs that unlock fashion’s inner wood nymph. Her stomping ground? The pastoral plains of Somerset. We caught five minutes with her to hear about the best of the West.
The idyllic country pub for a cider or
two? The Lord Poulett Arms in Hinton Saint George is my local; a pub as it should be, and it has great food (lordpoulettarms.com). Lower Godney’s The Sheppey Inn is also amazing. Totally quirky and fun, and they host brilliant live music nights (thesheppey.co.uk).
Best place for a lazy Sunday brunch?
At The Chapel’s restaurant for breakfast or brunch (atthechapel.co.uk). It’s a converted chapel-turned-hotel with great interior spaces. Try the free-range Somerset eggs.
Where to go for Somerset’s best
cider? My parents’ cider farm at Burrow Hill (somersetciderbrandy.com) – it’s the best Somerset cider and cider brandy in the country. Book a guided tour of the distillery and the barrel bond to get the full experience, complete with a tasting session.
Table to book in advance? Hix Oyster & Fish House overlooking Lyme Regis, just over the border in Dorset. It’s well worth a visit for amazing seafood with the signature Mark Hix touch (hixrestaurants.com).
Can you recommend an independent boutique? Flags and Moss (instagram. com/flagsandmoss). It’s a great store in Bruton which houses regular exhibitions and hosts fashion and art pop-ups.
Interior design treasure trove? The auction house in Crewkerne, Lawrences Auctioneers, does a general sale every Wednesday where you can pick up all sorts of things for the home (lawrences.co.uk).
Where to bag a vintage gem? The lovely market town of Frome has lots of little antiques shops that are perfect for pottering around in. Try World Basket for a selection of hand-loomed Indian kilims, cushions and pouffes (worldbasket.co.uk) and Life of Riley for household curiosities and wares.
If you’re lucky you might see? The murmuration of starlings at Avalon Marshes on Shapwick Moor (avalonmarshes.org). From October to March, the evening sky is occasionally filled with flocks moving like dark clouds. It’s spectacular.
The best gallery around? The Hauser & Wirth Gallery in Bruton is a nice exhibition space for contemporary art (hauserwirth. com). Also on site is the Roth Bar & Grill, which does a great Sunday roast and cocktails (rothbarandgrill.co.uk).
The farm shop to stock up at? The Trading Post Farm Shop at Lopenhead is a good stop-off. It’s full of farm-grown vegetables, locally sourced food, homemade cakes, and local beers and ciders. It’s also great for kids, with a converted railway carriage and a double-decker bus serving as the restaurant (tradingpostfarmshop.co.uk).
Don’t leave without visiting? For something outdoorsy, the newest thing in the area are the beautiful cider gardens at The Newt hotel (thenewtinsomerset.com).