OUT & ABOUT

This month’s pick of places to go and people to see

visit: MESSUMS Wiltshire

An offshoot of the well-known gallery on London’s Cork Street, Messums Wiltshire is a cavernous converted barn turned exhibition space. Founded by Johnny Messum, a second-generation dynast of the art-dealing family, this new countryside outpost presents a roster of artists that blur the line between fine art and craft. Regularly changing exhibitions feature artists such as Nic Fiddiangreen, Dame Elisabeth Frink and Grayson Perry. Make a day of it with lunch at the Mess restaurant, before picking up a souvenir at the beautifully curated gallery shop, messumswiltshire.com.

Stay: THYME

The go-to Cotswolds bolthole for keen epicureans, Thyme started out as a cookery school but now better resembles a small British village. Activity gravitates around the Lodge, a classically styled boutique hotel, from which the bar, pub, gardens and Meadow

Spa are just a short stroll. Newly opened restaurant Ox Barn is decked out in custom Ochre furniture and serves dishes such as roast partridge with pickled damsons. And, of course, the cookery school remains as popular as ever with classes on everything from bread making and Indian kitchen staples to seasonal dinner parties, thyme.co.uk.

SHOP: Engine Yard at Belvoir Castle

The Duchess of Rutland’s new project has transformed Belvoir Castle. A series of neglected outbuildings have been converted into a vibrant, rural retail destination that welcomes visitors with a warm atmosphere and boutiques full of tempting produce. Everything you’d find in a traditional village is here – a top-quality butcher and traditional toyshop, for example – as well as a few things you wouldn’t – such as the Belvoir Casa day spa and Margo & Plum interiors store.

Stop off at the Duchess Gallery for giftware, fashion and jewellery, engineyardbelvoir.com.