A forgotten fishing village in the romantic wilds of northern Somerset has become the unlikely home to a heavenly boutique 4-room hotel with remarkable food. Winding down a tiny B-road over undulating landscape with an expanse of sea beyond, you can feel your shoulders drop as you approach the destination in Porlock Weir. This is a place to breathe and reboot. Owners Cindy and Pio, an Italian self-taught chef, have combined their hostessing and culinary talents to create a truly relaxing haven that exudes exotic comfort and chic. Furnished with a mix of vintage pieces from Cindy’s past life as chatelaine of a grand country house including plump Knole sofas, uniquely upholstered antique armchairs, sculptural lighting, a vast Murano chandelier that glistens over the stairs, antique statues strewn with beaded necklaces, old and modern paintings, interspersed with heirlooms from Pio’s family in Naples - the atmosphere is soothing and luxuriating. Guest rooms have super kingsize beds, sumptuous linen, scented candles and modern ensuite bathrooms. Dinner is a sublime affair - 4 or 5 courses from a set menu of pure alchemy devised and served by Pio accompanied by wine and warmth proffered by Cindy. It’s this personal, hands-on approach that stands Locanda apart from other hotels. And in such a quiet location, you are guaranteed a delightful sleep. Breakfast is another delicious experience. Overall it’s a treat.
Foodies
Back to Nature
Cycling
Great walks
Other Activities
Restrictions on children
Minimum Stay
Owner managed
Good wine list
Full of character
Quiet
Gourmet
Intimate
Four poster beds
Charming
Pet friendly
In/by a Nature Reserve
Boutique
Restaurant
Rooms
4 rooms in this hotelRestrictions on children
It is adult-only unless the whole property is rented outMinimum Stay
Two-night minimum stayBar
Meeting Room
Bicycle hire
Good wine list
Adult Only
Parking
Wifi
Four poster beds
Suites
Pet friendly
Garden
Restaurant
Cycling
Great walks
Other Activities
Why do people love staying in your hotel? Our guests love to stay at our hotel because of the feeling of peace, relaxation and of coming home. Added to very elevated cuisine executed to exacting standards in every single way by the Italian chef co owner who dedicates all day in the kitchen to making those 4/ 5 courses a taste and visual sensation for a maximum of only 10 diners per night. Our guests love the personal ( in a good way !) decor of the hotel, curated with intention. Someone described us very well as impeccably informal which just about sums our offer up.
What is there to do in the area? In the area guests hike the SW coast path which Porlock weir stands upon, they bike, hike, forest bathe ( walk in the ancient woodlands) explore the moors, swim in the cold sea, shop for antiques and curios, and basically get back in touch with nature at its wildest and best. Various National Trust sites are within 30 minutes drive if one is a fan of all things NT eg. Castles, gardens, walks.
What kind of breakfast do you offer? We offer a full a la carte breakfast included in the room price to include several healthy options including home made yoghurt, compotes, hand ground pat groats, we take our food very seriously !
Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally?
We also open our restaurant ( 10 covers maximum per night ) to non residents for our set 4/5 course daily changing menu . There is no where locally I can recommend to eat unless for cream teas and pub grub , all fairly average, sorry to say it but it’s a fact.
Which are your most popular room types, and why? All 4 of our rooms are popular but the suite is the most popular as it is huge and the only en suite to include a bath as well as a shower .
What facilities do you have for children and can you fit extra beds in your rooms ? No children unless the place is booked exclusively then babies and children are welcome. We do not put extra beds in the rooms.
What message would you like to give The Hotel Guru readers? My message would be to read the reviews in national press supporting the view that Locanda is unlike anywhere else in the uk being based on the Italian concept of a restaurant with rooms in a coastal setting, it is quintessentially British, with an Italian chef, Irish hospitality and a nod to an oriental aesthetic in decor, a fabulous mixture of all with the food leading the way!
This chic little boutique hotel is a treasure trove of beautiful things, from its vintage furniture to its highly desirable food. Run by a charming team, it occupies a contemplative spot in the arty harbour of Porlock Weir, where the untamed Exmoor National Park meets the sea...
Originally published by The Telegraph
People go to Exmoor for free-roaming ponies and craggy landscapes, but this year-old restaurant with rooms is on its way to becoming another draw. Set in a small fishing village on the Somerset coast, Locanda on the Weir is run by Italian Pio and his wife, Cindy, whose cooking and interior-design skills have merged to create a boutique bolthole with English country-house decor, West Country sea views and a dash of Italian flair...
Originally published by Sunday Times
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