My Favorite Hotel In The World
Short answer: The Newt In Somerset
And today I'm going to spill all the details, and why I think this.
After visiting Babylonstoren, its South African sister, I thought hospitality couldn’t get any better.
And then I came here.
There are remarkable parallels to Babylonstoren, and I can’t be more emphatic that I think you should visit both. Two perfect halves of a whole—on separate continents, in separate hemispheres.
If you didn’t read that post, go check it out!
Stunning gardens, history, nature, hospitality, and craft—all my favorite things in one magical place.
This is more farm than hotel.
Somerset, 2 hours west of London, is internationally known for its cider. The Newt embraces this heritage, set against the backdrop of apple orchards.
In 2013, a South African billionaire couple, Koos Bekker and Karen Roos, acquired the 17th century Georgian estate.
So from the beginning, money was no object.
They didn't embark on either this, Babylonstoren, or their current Italy under-the-wraps hotel from a profit-first perspective. As preposterous as it sounds, these were more like hobbies to them.
Sources say they spent $105,000,000 on the renovation (this seems to be a bit more than what they spent at Babylonstoren, though all exact figures remain confidential). Both projects took 3-6 years apiece to complete.
Hadspen House, one of the original buildings of the expansive estate
Using local craftsmen and sustainable materials, they transformed the Somerset property into something extraordinary:
Six exquisite gardens, including a walled maze of 250+ apple varieties
World-class dining, where every ingredient is sourced from the estate
Experiential attractions like a suspended forest walk, Beezantium (a glasshouse honoring bees), and The Story of Gardening—an interactive exhibit with VR tours of the world’s greatest gardens
Inside Beezantium
They literally went all out. Again, they weren't driven by a profit motive or imperative, and the impeccable results testify to this.
Get this:
During construction, they unearthed a 4th-century Roman villa buried on the grounds. They had no idea it was there when they bought the estate!
Instead of leaving it to history, they found and hired some of the world's top archeologists and brought it back to life.
Next to the reconstructed villa, they built a world-class private museum exploring Roman history and culture. There’s even a VR experience taking you into daily Roman life.
It’s astonishingly good.
And this is just the beginning.
Outside the reconstructed villa
Inside the villa
The Newt hosts seasonal events, from Garden Day in spring to Harvest and Apple Day in autumn, and enchanted trails in winter.
Koos recently purchased and restored an old train depot a few miles away, turning it into a creamery. And now they’re offering curated rail experiences:
Guests board in London, enjoy a farm-fresh breakfast on the scenic 2-hour ride, and are shuttled to The Newt for a day of cider, gardens, & the best hospitality on the planet.
My favorite part? The people. The culture Karen and Koos have created is extraordinary.
One staff member spent over 2 hours giving me a personal tour, answering every question—just because I asked for it.
This warmth and care are unforgettable. I still think about (and communicate with) some of the folks I met there to this day.
This culture is no accident. Karen and Koos live on-site, know everyone by name, and treat them such that turnover is ~0% after 5 yrs.
These are billionaires that could live anywhere, and they choose to live right alongside their guests (I think I would, too, given the place).
This level of care—in design, experience, and hospitality—makes The Newt unlike anything else.
One of three restaurants onsite
The parlor of Hadspen House
Its 42 guest rooms are nestled within over 1,000 breathtaking acres.
Inside one of the forty-two accommodations
Let's do some napkin math here:
From my research, the ADR is $2,000/night(+/-), and occupancy is 85% year round.
42*2,000*365*.85 = $26,061,000 annual room revenue
This doesn't include any of the restaurant, product, event, or membership (yes, they have this too, just like last week's example from hinter!) revenue.
I bet they're grossing $40M USD a year. And from other sources I've spoken with, they're making a little each year, but mainly breaking even. Again, that's a win for the owners. It's the prestige and pride of owning such an asset that means more than money.
And I’m not the only one who feels this way: it just claimed the #1 spot on the Top 50 Boutique Hotels in the World.
Secret’s out, I guess.
How can you tell who has this kind of care? The details.
Thousands of tiny, tricky, thoughtful touches—woven together into one cohesive masterpiece.
It stirred deep feelings I didn't expect: gratitude, awe, and a renewed appreciation for what’s possible when people care and obsess about their craft.
Would it be possible for this property to profit $10-20M+/year? Easily. They could trim staff, programming, and could've generally spent about half of what they did on the project itself, but then it wouldn't be The Newt.
The proprietors
Karen and Koos, if you’re reading this:
I have the utmost respect what you’ve accomplished, and it’d be an honor to talk shop someday.