What's New in Somerset & Dorset? Places to Eat, Stay & Discover in 2026

New restaurants, vineyard experiences, countryside retreats and places worth making a detour for – there's plenty happening across Somerset and Dorset in 2026. Here's what's on our West Country Escapes radar.

There are some places you visit once. And then there's the West Country.

Somerset and Dorset have that knack of continually giving you a reason to come back – a newly opened restaurant, a beautiful country pub you hadn't discovered, a vineyard tucked into the hills or a new place to stay that suddenly has you planning an entire weekend around it.

And 2026 is proving particularly interesting.

Here are some of the places, openings and experiences worth knowing about right now.

Dorset's food scene is getting even more exciting

Dorset has become a serious destination for food lovers.

With an abundance of seafood, farms, independent producers and some extremely talented chefs, the county is increasingly somewhere you might choose to visit because of the food – with the spectacular coastline almost an added bonus.

From Lyme Regis and Bridport to Weymouth, Sherborne, Poole and the Isle of Purbeck, you'll find everything from relaxed beachside seafood to destination dining.

And with Dorset continuing to attract national recognition for its restaurants, it's worth making dinner reservations part of your holiday planning rather than leaving them until you arrive.

West Country Escapes tip: If there's somewhere you've set your heart on eating, book before your trip – particularly during weekends and the summer holidays.

Vineyard days in Somerset

When you think of Somerset, cider may immediately spring to mind.

But wine is becoming another very good reason to explore the county.

Somerset has a growing collection of vineyards where visitors can discover locally produced English wines while enjoying some rather lovely countryside.

One to know is Wraxall Vineyard, near Shepton Mallet.

Set on a south-facing hillside, the vineyard grows varieties including Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and offers visitors the opportunity to experience Somerset wine right where it's produced.

Vineyard visits are becoming much more of an experience too.

Think tastings, food, special events and long afternoons overlooking the vines rather than simply popping in to buy a bottle.

It's exactly the sort of experience we'd build a Somerset weekend around.

Somerset's farm-to-table movement

One of the things Somerset does particularly well is food that feels connected to where you are.

Restaurants, pubs, estates and producers across the county are increasingly celebrating ingredients grown, reared or produced nearby.

Holm in South Petherton, for example, describes itself as a contemporary restaurant inspired by its Somerset surroundings, working with local suppliers and changing its menus according to the seasons and produce available. It also has seven bedrooms, meaning dinner doesn't necessarily have to end with the drive home.

Then there's The Newt in Somerset, where gardens, orchards, food, cyder making and the wider estate experience have helped turn a Somerset country estate into a destination in its own right. Its Great Garden Escape even brings visitors from London Paddington into the West Country for an immersive Somerset day.

It's all part of something we think visitors increasingly want: to taste the place they're visiting, rather than simply eat in it.

The rise of the countryside retreat

There's another type of West Country break we're seeing more of: going away to do considerably less.

And we're fully in favour.

Beautifully converted barns, small boutique hotels, farm stays, wellness retreats and secluded cottages are making Somerset and Dorset perfect territory for a slower escape.

Wake up late. Walk somewhere beautiful. Find a great pub for lunch. Read a book. Have dinner. Repeat.

In Dorset, Louma is a good example of this new generation of rural retreats. Set within Marshwood Vale, the 17-key property combines accommodation, countryside, wellness, farm-to-table food, horse riding and its own vineyard.

These aren't simply places to sleep.

Increasingly, the place you stay is becoming part of the reason for the trip.

Somerset is perfect for a slower weekend

Somerset feels particularly suited to this new way of travelling.

Head towards Bruton and Frome, explore the Mendip Hills, wander across the Somerset Levels, discover the Quantocks or continue west towards Exmoor.

The joy is that you don't need an enormous itinerary.

A brilliant pub, a country walk, a farm shop and somewhere lovely to stay can be more than enough.

And there always seems to be another village, restaurant, garden or independent shop to discover along the way.

Dorset: coast and countryside in one escape

Dorset gives you something slightly different.

You can spend the morning walking the Jurassic Coast, have lunch overlooking the sea and be deep in rolling countryside later that afternoon.

Places such as Lyme Regis, West Bay, Bridport, Weymouth, Swanage and Studland make obvious coastal bases, but venture inland and you'll discover some of Dorset's loveliest villages, pubs, farm shops and country stays.

It's this combination that makes Dorset particularly good for a short break – you don't have to choose between coast and countryside.

You can have both.

And there are always new places appearing…

That's perhaps our favourite thing about the West Country.

Just when you think you know it, something new opens.

A restaurant appears in a village you'd barely noticed.

An old pub gets a new lease of life.

A farm starts hosting supper evenings.

A vineyard introduces tastings.

A beautiful old building becomes somewhere to stay.

Or somebody tells you about a beach, walk or café that somehow you've driven past for years.

Those are often the discoveries that make the best weekends.

Your next West Country escape starts here

At West Country Escapes, we're searching out the places worth knowing across Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall – from established favourites to new openings and hidden gems.

Whether you're looking for somewhere to stay, eat, explore or even move to, we'll help you discover more of the West Country.

Explore:

• Places to stay
• Pubs & restaurants
• Things to do
• What's on
• Beaches & outdoor adventures
• Family days out
• Dog-friendly places
• Properties for sale
• Local guides
• New openings

And keep checking back.

Because there's always something new to discover in the West Country.