Hestercombe Gardens is well known locally as a beautiful place to spend time with over 50 acres of gardens designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, there is a cafe and a shop with plant centre, but for those who venture into the House itself to see the art gallery or visit the book shop there is a wonderful surprise – a lovely dining room in The Column Room overlooking the formal gardens. We visited for my birthday and enjoyed a really lovely three course meal worthy of any first class restaurant, not a huge menu but the better for it as each course which superbly created and presented by helpful waiting staff. The view from this room is simply lovely and if you need to walk it off afterwards a booking at the restaurants gains you access to the gardens without an entrance fee. The restaurant is open for lunch and afternoon teas (which also looked lovely!) Wed – Sun plus bank hol Mondays. The restaurant is not well advertised or signposted from the car park (go to the ticket office first and they will direct you and give you stickers for garden entrance) – but do let them know if you have a problem with steps as there is a long flight of stone steps down to the house via the gardens entrance, or alternatively there is a flat driveway to walk/drive along if you have mobility problems.
“Hestercombe Column Room Restaurant”:https://www.hestercombe.com/your-visit/places-to-eat-in-taunton/
