street entrance (photo taken on sunny Saturday)
July has been the month of quick weekend getaways. (I excel at two-day vacations. I know: so American.) This past weekend, we took a Friday night train to Bruton so I could finally check At The Chapel off of my London Bucket List. The restaurant/bakery/hotel opened in 2008, and I think I’ve been plotting my visit since shortly after that.
It was a very rainy Friday, but thankfully it had slowed to a mist by the time we arrived at the station in Bruton and made the short walk to the property. We quickly checked in and then hurried downstairs for our 7:15 dinner reservation.
dining room
Our table was along one side of the chapel-turned-restaurant and I started to take in the surroundings. The restaurant quickly filled for Friday dinner: high ceilings and white walls helped disguise the dreary weather.
pizza prep
The restaurant is known for its pizza, and I love pizza, so ordering was a no-brainer. (Don’t the carry-out boxes look great?)
dinner
To add a bit of adventure to our pizza-and-salad meal, we added a side of Stills Farm carrots. They were amazing — buttery, colorful, and full of flavor. (In case you were wondering, the chorizo pizza was delicious, too.)
room service breakfast
In the morning, guests at the hotel receive croissants at 7am, which arrive in a bag hung from your door knob (just in case your day starts later than 7). There is fresh butter and jam in the mini-fridge, and a French press for your coffee. Such an easy, elegant way to have room service!
pastry + baked goods display
Of course, one pastry was never going to cut it for breakfast, so we headed downstairs a bit later to peruse the bakery‘s pastry table.
fresh-baked bread
Loaves of bread lined another wall, and most of it was gone by the afternoon, when we returned for lunch: this time, on the outdoor terrace (Saturday was sublime: gorgeous + sunny) with burgers and beer and yes, more carrots.
view into bakery/pizza area
One of the highlights of my visit was meeting At The Chapel’s owners, Catherine Butler and Ahmed Sidki, at checkout. (They were manning the “front desk” when we came to collect our bags.) I was grateful to be able to tell them in person them how much I enjoyed our experience at their hotel. I also seized the opportunity to ask Catherine a few questions about the bottled wine they sell, as I was particularly curious about how an Oregon wine, Evolution, ended up on their short list. (At The Chapel’s retail selection is identical to the restaurant’s wine list, so if you find a favorite while dining, you can buy a bottle to enjoy at your leisure.)
all photos by jane potrykus
* I didn’t take any photos of our room, but we stayed in room 5, which is on the top floor + offers magnificent views of Bruton. The room was spacious, comfortable + perfectly appointed (Ren products are featured in the bath). I’d stay there again in a heartbeat, though I’m tempted to try room 8 next time, as it opens onto a private courtyard.