Hadspen House, a Grade II-listed country house on the Emily Estate in Somerset, UK, will reopen at the end of August as a new hotel and spa called The Newt.
The property will be named for the protected great crested newts found on-site.
A working Georgian country estate located between Bruton and Castle Cary in Somerset, the estate consists of a garden visitor attraction, cultivated gardens designed by French-Italian architect Patricia Taravella, ancient woodlands, orchards, a state-of-the-art cider press and cellar and a farm shop.
Inspired by its grounds, The Newt will be home to a 'world-class' spa, located in a building designed by architect Katie Lewis to resemble a traditional agricultural structure.
The spa will offer a host of treatments designed to encourage guests to embrace country living. Facilities will include a hammam and mud therapy room inside a private couples treatment room, as well as indoor and outdoor pools, a halotherapy room and a 'wild' pool.
The resort, which is owned by South African billionaire Koos Bekker and his wife, former Elle Decoration SA editor, Karen Roos, is designed to celebrate Somerset and will place a strong emphasis on sustainability, with the gardens playing a starring role.
Landscaped by Taravella, they will supply produce, such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers and honey, to all restaurants on the estate and will comprise a Baroque maze, a Victorian fragrance garden and greenhouse, a cottage garden, a modern water garden and colour 'rooms' designed to take visitors on a journey through the history of gardening.
A Parabola walled garden, home to a collection of trained apple trees artfully arranged into a maze, will serve as a spectacular focal point, enclosing 3000sq m (32292 sq ft) of garden space containing 460 apple trees of 267 varieties within nine-foot-high walls.
Other facilities include the 13 bedroom hotel in the main house, as well as the 10-bedroom Stable Yard.
The two restaurants are The Botanical Rooms, offering a menu of locally-sourced, seasonal dishes, and Horns & Pigtails, located in the original vaulted cellar and offering menus inspired by Georgian documents found in the house.
The state-of-the-art cider press completes the offering. Guests can take daily tours of the press, learning about the craft and history of cider pressing, and even press their own cider at weekends.
