Horrell and Horrell: Somerset farm-to-fork restaurant REVIEW

My review of Horrell and Horrell, a magical farm-to-table micro dining experience in rural South Somerset. Set in a beautifully restored 400-year-old cow barn and hosted by Jules and Steve Horrell, you need to add this enchanting dining destination to your Somerset wish list.

Horrell and Horrell micro dining experience

Occasionally on Instagram, the algorithm will bring forth a succulent nugget. And in my case, said nugget was Horrell & Horrell, a micro dining experience hosted by husband and wife team, Jules and Steve Horrell, at their home in rural South Somerset.

Sometime last year, Images of a beautifully-laid dining table adorned with vintage crockery, snuggly blanket-backed chairs, a rustic barn festooned with bunting and fairy lights started to creep into my feed and immediately piqued my interest. A rustic barn, deep in the countryside and mouth watering dishes, clearly derived from the local surroundings, placed this 400-year old cow barn and its outdoor kitchen firmly on my Somerset bucket list.

Inside the cow barn, Horrell and Horrell Somerset

So how did this little pocket of gastronomic gorgeousness in rural Somerset come about? After working for ten years at the Roth Bar & Grill at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton, experienced restaurateurs Chef Steve and Front of House Jules, decided to go solo, aided by a couple of family members. They started out with magical summer supper clubs in the barn in their garden, which took off immediately, and grew into three course feasts for 30 diners at a time, all year-round.

I’d bought my husband a Horrell and Horrell gift voucher for Christmas and after almost a month spent by our daughter’s bedside in hospital, we cashed it in and taxi-ed to Sparkford for the night with two of our friends to celebrate her release and revel in our freedom – savouring each mouthful all the more.

Horrell and Horrell Somerset log burner, inside the cow barn — Inside the cow barn, Horrell and Horrell

Horrell and Horrell Somerset at night — Inside the cow barn, Horrell and Horrell

Here’s what I thought of our evening out at Horrell and Horrell:

It is a short stroll down the lane from our taxi (we were well-prepared and secured this rare Somerset transport in advance), to Jules and Steve’s spectacular garden. The cow barn is a sight to behold, its open sides adorned with dangling flower baskets, a subtle whiff of woodsmoke in the air – much of the meal is cooked over fire.

An immaculate lawn, pots brimming with vibrant blooms, and a modern egg-shaped sculpture that blends seamlessly with its more aged Somerset surroundings. A plankbridge shepherd’s hut, garden furniture painted in Farrow and Ball lichen tones handcrafted by the Scottish prison service (an organisation that helps reintegrate former convicts into trade and industry) and a vintage tractor complete this Somerset scene.

Horrell and Horrell Somerset garden — Horrell and Horrell garden

Horrell and Horrell Somerset kitchen garden — Horrell and Horrell garden

Various plant beds and a polytunnel highlight the fact that much of the ingredients are grown onsite or sourced from small-scale local producers. Guests get to potter in the garden with a complimentary, homemade ‘spritz’, while digitally documenting the insta-friendly setting, before being invited to take their seats at the long trestle table, which runs the length of the barn.

Horrell and Horrell Somerset table — Dining table

The last time I sat at a table so beautifully laid, was at a wedding and indeed, sitting down to dine with new acquaintances alongside old friends, gives it an element of that, but with the intimacy, homeliness and unpretentiousness of going to a friend’s house for dinner.

Every nook oozes rustic elegance – woven rattan lamp shades hang over the table, assorted vintage trinkets (collected during years of visits to reclamation yards, brocantes and fairs) and homemade preserves line the shelves, a log burner adds the cosy, twinkly lights and bunting abound. Seated in our foursome, with our BYO wine, we chat happily to our neighbouring fellow guests who include a couple from Bristol (who are visiting Somerset specifically to dine at Horrell and Horrell) to bigger groups.

Food at Horrell and Horrell Somerset — Starters

Food at Horrell and Horrell Somerset dining experience — Starters

There’s no menu instead, our meal is dictated by available seasonal produce, availability of local producers and items foraged from their garden, fruit trees and hedgerows. We graze over the course of a few hours on sharing platters of veggies and houmous, delicious bread, followed by belly pork (our friends had the vegetarian option), sea salt potatoes, salad topped with edible flowers, beautifully garnished dishes and a local cheese board.

With such fresh, top-notch, seasonal, local produce, paired with garden-picked ingredients, a warm welcome, bloomin’ marvellous cooking and a stunning rural backdrop, it’s not hard to see why people are raving about Horrell and Horrell.

Horrell and Horrell Somerset farm to fork restaurant — Gardens

Tempted? How to visit Horrell and Horrell:

Horrell and Horrell are open every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, and the occasional Sunday lunch.

Reservation slots are released every three months – get in there early as they fill up quickly. Click here to book.

Private dining:

Horrell and Horrell and the barn are available for private hire throughout the year for up to 48 guests seated. Bespoke menus and beautiful table-scapes can be created for all manner of occasions and celebrations.