We were doing a family genealogy trip to Somerset County and ending up staying in Chard as it is in Somerset yet borders both Devon and Dorset counties giving us a base that would allow us to explore a variety of directions. We were driving a rental car and a priority was to have parking available with lodging which can be difficult to find. We lucked out when we chose the Bath House Hotel. It surpassed our expectations. Husband and wife, hosts Ron and Karine aided by their right hand woman, Shin, went out of their way to make our visit special. The motto above the hotel/restaurant entrance says Dine, Stay, Meet, Experience. And that is what we did. Ron is a master chef and his progressive menu included British classics with Asian and European touches. He has won several culinary awards. The quality and presentation of the food equaled that of more pricey London restaurants and is definitely worthy of a visit by choosey foodies. Our excellent breakfasts were free of charge. We also chose to pay for some evening meals which did not disappoint. Karine is a very gracious hostess. We enjoyed the opportunity to sit and take evening tea with her and others in the family. There was no pressure just an offer of friendship which we accepted. She also makes a very tasty chocolate candy dessert that goes very well with the English tea. Shin took care of so many details of our stay. She gave us information that we didn’t know we needed and made sure our rooms were fully stocked. The rooms themselves were immaculately cleaned. Each room is uniquely decorated. We stayed in the Willow Room. Older English buildings rarely have large bedrooms but ours was perfectly acceptable for two people. We prefer the charm and quaintness to the modern sterile huge look alike hotel rooms. Our hosts insisted on carrying our bags both up and down the steps on arrival and departure which we appreciated as we are senior citizens. There are steps up to the rooms and I am a bit handicapped in walking but I managed the stairs without problem. The hotel is in close driving distance to a number of local attractions. We particularly enjoyed a visit to Forde Abbey, a beautifully restored historic house and gardens. The Abbey was a less than a fifteen minute drive. The bedrooms are distant enough from the kitchens that there is no trace of cooking smells. The air conditioning and wi-fi worked perfectly, not alway the case in older buildings. We found the lodging cost to be extremely reasonable, much cheaper than if we had stayed at a lodging in the crowded, noisy tourist areas along the seashore. We were sorry to leave and would love to return some day.
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