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Bruton has a habit of drawing in the curious and the cultured, and at its heart sits At the Chapel, a Grade II listed congregational chapel reimagined as a modern sanctuary of food, art and design. The soaring arched windows flood the space with light, washing over minimalist interiors where contemporary artworks punctuate the serenity. It is both a neighbourhood anchor and a destination for those who prefer their gastronomy paired with cultural resonance.
By day, the building hums quietly. An artisan bakery produces long-fermented loaves, organic stone-ground pastries and the kind of croissants that arrive at your door as dawn breaks. The adjoining wine shop hints at continental living, while the all-day restaurant gathers locals and travellers alike. The menu moves between modern British refinement and Mediterranean brightness, rooted always in Somerset’s seasons. Even the wood-fired sourdough pizzas have become something of a legend, eaten beneath those magnificent chapel windows or out on the terrace in summer sunlight, dogs snoozing contentedly at their owners’ feet.
By night, the pace slows and the chapel transforms. The nine guest rooms are pale-hued, uncluttered retreats where marble baths, king-size beds and a pillow menu take the concept of quiet luxury literally. The stillness of the building, once filled with hymn, is now a cocoon of pared-down design and thoughtful hospitality.
Yet At the Chapel is not just about eating or sleeping. It is a cultural catalyst. Its Club Room hosts curator-led gatherings that reflect Bruton’s appetite for discourse and creativity, contributing to the town’s emergence as one of rural England’s most dynamic cultural enclaves. Alongside Hauser & Wirth Somerset, Number One Bruton, Osip and the independent makers that cluster here, At the Chapel has shaped a new narrative for this pocket of Somerset: one where heritage architecture finds a new purpose, where food is inseparable from place, and where art is not confined to a gallery.
Owned today by the Stay Original Company, the chapel’s rebirth feels less like a reinvention and more like a continuation. Its stone walls hold centuries of community, now retuned for a contemporary audience that values design integrity, conviviality and the slow pleasures of living well.
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Get the insider news and lowdown on what we've been up to, where we've been, and who we've met along the way. Be the first to discover new places and get the scoop on our favourites.