The Natterjack and the Newt!

The Natterjack. The Newt. You might well say that natterjacks and newts are forms of reptile found in the UK and elsewhere, and you would be correct.

However, Wendy and I drove to Somerset last weekend, and visited 2 hotels – the Natterjack and the Newt. (Would we move on to the Frog? I jest!). In fact, neither were really hotels; the Natterjack was a traditional inn, with rooms for travellers. It was beautifully rural, and walking from our converted barn to the main building for breakfast, we were surrounded with the songs of blackbirds and the clucking of hens. The Newt was so different, and in fact, a complex. 2,000-3,000 acres, with 2 hotels and a third under construction, 2 museums, acres of gardens and orchards, 35 gardeners, a grotto….. Wendy’s niece was married in Frome, and had her reception at the Newt. That’s why we were there.

We stayed at the Natterjack, and would recommend it to anyone needing a bed (and a great breakfast, and fantastic dinner, and fabulous hosts and team) near the village of Evercreech. The Natterjack – I thought that they must have ‘toad in the hole’ on the menu (the natterjack is a species of toad, just in case you didn’t know!), but steak was irresistible. And delicious. 

The wedding was in Frome, a beautiful town, that stressed me out of my mind! Apparently it was built for sheep markets, and not for cars. Many roads were about as wide as a sheep, and my wheels juddered against the kerbs. The satnav took us around every narrow lane in the town, but we made the wedding. Next week, the body shop to get the wheels fixed. And then the Newt. Amazing gardens. Amazing grotto.

Amazing everything. But a vegetarian reception with no alcohol? Great food, great soft drinks, a memorable time, and a bottle of Shiraz back at the Natterjack.

I enjoy life. I enjoy good food, fine wines and convivial company. Most of my readers know that I am a practising Christian. Born again. Happy clappy, in Daily Mail parlance. So I thank the Lord for an excellent weekend, at a fabulous inn, an interesting hotel complex, and meeting fab people. And now it’s this weekend, with family on Saturday, and on Sunday, the church we host in our sitting room also staying for lunch. 16 booked in so far. I think conversation might include our reptilian weekend.

If you want to read about Somerset, don’t look through my books. But if you want to read about Norfolk, the following are available from Waterstones, Jarrolds and all good book shops.