Travel / Day Trips
‘A place to escape, unwind, and feast in style’
Just a short hop from Bristol, a place of remarkable sanctuary awaits.
Tucked away in the gently rolling hills of Freshford, Homewood is a country house hotel, spa and kitchen set in stunning grounds.
I had visited once before with friends for a delightful twilight spa evening but was tempted back this time to sample their brand-new summer dining experience, which launched on May 30.
is needed now More than ever
La Taberna: Fire & Feast takes place in a sumptuously decorated tent on the lawns outside the elegant Bath stone hotel, and comprises a three-course meal, largely cooked outdoors over fire.
The main house, terrace and lawn
Keen to work up an appetite, my guest and I arrived a couple of hours early and threw ourselves at the spa facilities with alacrity – hopping from indoor hydrotherapy pool and steam room to outdoor vitality pool and sauna.
When you’re ready, there are also plenty of cushioned loungers on which to lie back and let the serenity find you; from laid back poolside seating to the spa lounge, which offers gorgeous rural Somerset views.
Newly expanded spa facilities – photo: Homewood
Duly relaxed and feast-ready, we made our way back to the hotel grounds for our introductory – and delicious – glass of champagne, and then joined a brief tour of the extensive ‘no dig’ kitchen garden at Homewood, from which much of our seasonal fare originates.
The chefs’ enthusiasm for being able to grow such a bounty of organic produce on site is self-evident. We see it in action, too, as they pick the herbs and flowers that garnish our dishes only minutes later.
Overhead shot of the ‘no dig’ kitchen garden
Our three-course tasting menu has highlights aplenty. Opening with delights including some sensational heritage tomatoes with basil aioli, and ricotta, orange and truffle ‘yellow dream’ peppers with courgette flowers, it moves on to summer squash with thyme, honey and truffle, alongside fried courgette, fennel and Manchego, Charlotte potato bravas and paella with pimenton, peppers, roast shallot and confit lemon.
As a vegetarian, I missed the stuffed lamb breast, pulled suckling pig and butterfly sardines, though I did see all of the above going down very well with many of my fellow diners.
Food served as part of the summer dining menu at La Taberna: Fire & Feast
To finish – and somehow we did all finish it – was possibly the best pavlova I’ve ever eaten.
I say this not least for the mouthwatering ‘berry soup’ that surrounded it, the hunk of honeycomb made with honey from the on-site hives, or the giant freshly picked blackberries and raspberries adorning the meringue. It was a showstopping way to bring a lovely experience to a close.
The tent in which the new dining concept takes place
Sarski Anderson was a guest of Homewood Hotel, Kitchen and Spa in Freshford, where spa experiences start at £89.
The La Taberna: Fire & Feast summer dining experience runs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until the end of September. It is priced at £75 pp, and includes a three-course meal with a glass of Tattinger champagne on arrival.
All photos: Homewood
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