At The Chapel, Bruton, Somerset | les Deux Messieurs

Friday, 16.00

An in-the-know local friend has raved to us about At The Chapel, a ‘restaurant with rooms’ in Bruton. From outside, little suggests that there’s more to this restrained building than meets the eye. But as we enter, we see bakers at work and displays of beautiful breads and cakes through a large picture window. Blow the diet – we’ll be trying some of those later!

Double doors open into a dramatic central space – the former chapel – with soaring ceiling and a centre-piece cascading chandelier. We’re warmly greeted and checked in; “Settle into your room and then come on down for cocktail!” we’re told – these are our kind of people.

16.10
We’re shown upstairs to Room 2. A massive stained glass window imbues the room with softly diffused light. The bed is super-king size, simply clothed in white. The walls, too, are white; colour comes from a bold modern artwork and coloured panels in the window.

A long wooden counter runs along one wall and we spot a tray with ice, limes and glasses ready for us to make welcome drinks. The stylish seating area with a shaggy rug, sleek modern armchair and lamp that would look at home in any design museum.

We’re shown how to use the touch-screen remote control that operates the TV and sound system; there’s a cordless iPod dock too that impresses music-loving Monsieur 2. The combination of minimal, monastic decor with cool modern furniture and state-of-the-art technology ticks all our boxes.

16.55
Time for cocktails al fresco on the terrace. The hand-built flint walls and climbing vines remind us of Tuscany, and there’s a beautiful view over the rooftops of the town.

The cocktail list is replete with classics, and a few bespoke creations. Our dry Martini and Moscow Mule are expertly-made, and huge – we imagine we’re in Sex And The City.

19.05
After a leisurely stroll around Bruton, we change and head back downstairs, stopping to admire the impressive sculpture above the bar.

The sun’s still shining outside, and we decide to make the most of it, stepping back out onto the terrace for pre-dinner drinks, Cosmos this time. When we’ve finished we order some Prosecco and a plate of antipasti to go with it; it’s wonderful, especially the smoky roasted peppers which have been cooked in the pizza oven.

20.07
We’re shown to our table in the dining room. Now night’s fallen and the lights have gone down, the room is dark, sexy and buzzy – it’s exciting! We take ages to choose from the mouth-watering menu, while nibbling on fantastic sourdough from the bakery.

We love what we eventually settle on; Monsieur 2’s chicken liver pate has real depth of flavour while my salad of perfectly pink wood pigeon with figs and bacon is cleverly composed.

Main courses are equally accomplished. My Lyme Bay sea bream with tomato salsa, fennel and courgettes is light, fresh and a really beautiful piece of fish. Monsieur 2’s huge rare rib-eye steak is gorgeous and he particularly likes the punchy peppercorn sauce and super-crisp fries. We finish with perfect puddings, a sinfully rich chocolate Nemesis and baked New York-style cheesecake with strawberries.

We drink a bottle of crisp Albarino from At The Chapel’s excellent wine list, and like it so much that we order some to take home with us from their wine shop! Service throughout is spot on – courteous, enthusiastic and attentive. We stumble up to bed happy.

23.12
Time to sleep. The bed is so comfy, with massive squashy pillows; we’re out for the count in minutes.

Saturday 07.40
Waking up to sunshine peeking round the curtains, we make a pot of Teapigs tea (with fresh Somerset milk from the fridge) and reach out of the door for the breakfast tray that’s thoughtfully provided – a croissant, baked during the night, with butter and home-made jam. They’re without doubt the best croissants we’ve ever tasted. What a start to the day!

08.20
We shower in the huge wet-room – so much space to splash around in! – with the fab REN products provided. There’s a massive bathtub too – this bathroom has definitely been designed with deux messieurs in mind.

08.58
We head down to the restaurant for breakfast, Monsieur 2 immediately ordering another of those delicious croissants. The menu’s concise and covers all the bases – cereals, pastries, eggs, bacon sarnies…

Monsieur 2 fancies poached eggs which aren’t on the menu but are rustled up for him – and perfectly. The room’s busy with locals, guests – and a rather famous TV presenter!

11.15
After one last cup of great coffee, we decide to head off; we could happily stay here all day but we’re going to visit beautiful Bath, just eleven miles away.


Everything about our stay has been simply perfect, from the stunning room, to those cocktails Carrie would kill for, the delicious food, wonderful service and thrilling atmosphere. The thoughtfulness and generosity that characterise how At The Chapel is run completely redefine what ‘luxury’ is.

Our time here has been a pure quality experience – and that’s something money just can’t buy. Not to mention, we have rather fallen for the owners’ Newfoundland dogs.

Our rating: We’ve given this gay friendly boutique hotel in Somerset, South West England, top marks – a full 5 star rating.
View more on At the Chapel and what to do in the area at deuxmessieurs.com

Broadstairs: An ulcer, a fugitive, and some seriously sinister steps

 Broadstairs may take its name from a series of steps leading to an 11th century cliff-top shrine, but it’s another, rather sinister set a few bays further in Broadstairs, that inspired one of the world’s most gripping thrillers – John Buchan’s The Thirty Nine Steps.

Buchan began writing his famous novel in 1915 while recovering from a stomach ulcer in North Foreland, Broadstairs.

Close to his cliff-top villa, cut through the chalk cliff, lay a set of stairs leading to the beach. It was the perfect backdrop to a tale of enemy spies invading, complete with caves and secret tunnels.

There were 78 steps in total, but Buchan reduced them to 39 for the title of his book.

The stairs remain deliciously eerie today – the upper entrance is hidden by vegetation, and the lower, beach-based entrance is only accessible at low tide.

Of course, it is Charles Dickens who is most commonly associated with Broadstairs – it was his favourite holiday destination: “You cannot think how delightful and fresh the place is and how good the walks,” he once said. Dickens introduced a number of  other literary figures to Broadstairs, including Hans Christian Anderson and Wilkie Collins. Oscar Wilde, Bernard Shaw and D H Lawrence also have connections with the town. There must be something in the water.

Where to stay in Broadstairs – read our review*
* Mention our name on booking, and receive a complimentary cocktail on arrival

Smell the Coffee of Old Clerkenwell

You may think that Starbucks owns the rights to caffeine, but coffeehouses flourished in London from the 1650s. One of the most notable was in St John’s Gate, the former southern entrance to the Priory of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem, a monastery that gave care to the poor and sick, founded in around 1145. Very Da Vinci Code.

The monastery was disbanded by Henry VIII, but by 1700 the gateway had become a coffee house, run by no other than the young William Hogarth’s father.

The classically educated man served coffee and encouraged customers to speak Latin – eventually going bankrupt and being sent to prison – while the budding child artist quietly sketched the characters he saw from a corner. They saw Handel, actor David Garrick, and writers Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Johnson pass through their door.

Visit St John’s Gate today, and you'll find the Museum of the Order of St John, which gave its name to the St John Ambulance Association -  an organisation that, to this day, looks after people’s personal safety and health. Rest assured, you won't be expected to speak Latin, but you will find plenty of history, not to mention coffee shops.

Where to stay in Clerkenwell - read our review

Feeling Bullish in Birmingham

A 100-Mile Waterway and a Giant Bronze Bull

Venice may hold the crown for the world’s most famous waterways, but Birmingham once trumped the Italian city’s celebrated title.

Birmingham’s canal system, which was built during the Industrial Revolution, once boasted more canal miles than Venice and remains one of the most intricate canal networks in the world. Visit its hub – Gas Street Basin, in the heart of Birmingham’s city centre – to see the colourful boats and exquisite architecture, whilst you enjoy the more modern canal-side restaurants, shopping and night clubs. Take the Water Bus and explore.

Step away from the canals and you might come face to face with one of Europe’s largest bulls. The giant bronze beast arrived in 2003, and celebrates Birmingham’s Bullring marketplace, dating back to the 12th century. Originally known as the Bulrygne, a bull-baiting site, the Bullring it has always been Birmingham’s most prosperous marketplace.

Don’t expect to find any live cattle here today though – bull baiting was banned in 1835 – instead, expect a fabulous shopping experience. Millions of pounds have been spent on regenerating Birmingham’s city centre, and with its eye-catching architecture , large open squares , galleries and some fantastic shopping, its been worth every penny.

Where to stay in Birmingham: Staying Cool – read our review