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Best Somerset blog, Somerset blogger

Local Radio Day

Oct 21, 2022
1 min

Local Radio Day

Yes, it’s Local Radio Day and every day and night when people switch on their local stations up and down the country, it’s like having a friend in your living room, kitchen or wherever you may listen from! And, as those recent Liz Truss interviews highlighted, local presenters and producers really are top notch. I absolutely love creating and presenting shows on BBC Radio Somerset. There have been so many highlights. Listen to just a few of them below, including Spencer Flay,

Picture Somerset - celebrating our magical county

May 11, 2022
12 min

Picture Somerset - celebrating our magical county

Yes, it's that time once again… Somerset Day! To be honest, we celebrate Somerset all year round but on May 11th, it’s great to take the opportunity to create a stunning snapshot of the county, as seen through the eyes of some of Somerset's brilliant photographers. So, grab a cuppa (or a cider!) and join me (Jenna) on a tour of our incredible county, as we head to some of the iconic sights, drink in those breathtaking views, meet a couple of county characters along the way, a

A Somerset celebration of British wine

Dec 31, 2021
1 min

A Somerset celebration of British wine

The sun is setting on 2021, a new year is on the horizon and we're gearing up for a uniquely Somerset celebration by sharing a chat with the maker of some of the county's beloved wines... that's Guy Smith of Smith and Evans. Guy, with his wife Laura, followed their dream of setting up a vineyard here, back in 2009. Guy is now on the board of Wine GB, the industry body for the wine growers and producers of Great Britain. He is Chair of Wine GB West, a collective of over 90 vin

Somerset drinks - The Somerset Bar

Nov 11, 2021
1 min

Somerset drinks - The Somerset Bar

Thirsty? Is yours a cocktail or a mocktail? Well, you can have both in the plush surroundings of Somerset's beautiful cocktail bar, The Somerset. It was great to spend some time there and around the historic market town of Ilminster last week, for my 'big night in' on BBC Radio Somerset. The bar is part of Alice Temperley’s Phoenix Studios and I caught up with Bar Manager, Tom Powel, to make some delicious mocktails... and also with Mark Cresswell, who has joined with Alice t

Eating out on the off chance!

Mar 19, 2019
4 min

Eating out on the off chance!

Normally we plan in where to go and who to write about (we've got a pretty impressive blog calendar if the truth be told ;)), but recently we’ve had a little flurry of just popping to places on the off chance... without really thinking about the blog, or about taking photos or writing it up! ;) I know!!! As we’ve been out and about quite a bit though, I thought I'd share three of the best with you really quickly – so there’s not necessarily the usual glut of original pics, bu

Wonderful World Book Day

Mar 7, 2019
5 min

Wonderful World Book Day

Happy World Book Day! From events across the country, to dressing up as your favourite character (we *might* have a Gruffalo costume in the drawer somewhere), this is one of those celebrated days we love - definitely more than 'National Static Electricity Day' anyway! I promise that does exist and we also missed national 'Step in a puddle and splash your friends day'. That was January 11th, honest! ;) Anyway, our tradition on World Book Day is to take some time out, sit down

Heavenly afternoon tea at Chapel House

Mar 26, 2018
6 min

Heavenly afternoon tea at Chapel House

What makes a great tea room, coffee shop or somewhere to grab a spot of lunch when you’re out and about? A place with amazing homemade cakes and savouries? Fresh Cappuccino made by people who genuinely understand coffee quality? A beautiful building to while away the hours in? Somewhere bright and beautiful that’s dog friendly too? (woo hoo!) Well, if you’re in Dunster and this sounds like your idea of heaven, pop by Chapel House Tea Room on West Street… because not only hav

A Secret World in Somerset

Mar 23, 2018
7 min

A Secret World in Somerset

If you read the blog regularly, you’ll know we flipping love animals (understatement of the century), but what should you do if you ever find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife in Somerset? Who you gonna call? (We’ll give you a clue. It’s absolutely not Ghostbusters! ;)) Secret World Wildlife Rescue is the brilliant charity to contact if you suspect an animal or bird is injured, or needs help. The team is here 365 days a year to ‘rescue, rehabilitate and release’ our wildlife

Picture Somerset - A photographic celebration of the county

Mar 21, 2018
2 min

Picture Somerset - A photographic celebration of the county

Do you photograph Somerset professionally, just for the sheer love of it, or both? :) Have you got some awesome shots of our stunning county that you'd like to share with a wider audience in a gallery setting? If you have, then here's an opportunity to grab with both hands... because to celebrate Somerset Day on May 11th, we're curating a photography exhibition with Somerset artist Donna Vale, at her lovely gallery 'For Every Cloud' in Langport. Donna recently completed a com

The Ciderthon - Four Thoughts

Mar 6, 2018
3 min

The Ciderthon - Four Thoughts

I ran a marathon once. Long, long time ago now and all I can say is that it definitely would've been a lot more fun with cider... so, when we heard about The Ciderthon - a half marathon happening in Somerset at the end of April, that combines running and cider tasting - our ears definitely pricked up! :) To find out more about this brilliant (and slightly bonkers) challenge, we caught up with Ciderthon creator Nikki Hawkes and asked her four questions we thought you'd love to

Marvellous marmalade making - with Bumblees

Feb 25, 2018
6 min

Marvellous marmalade making - with Bumblees

What are you having on your morning toast? Honey? Marmite? Strawberry Jam? Well, we’re having marmalade. Paddington would be proud… and it’s not just any marmalade either. It’s handmade by the Queen of Preserves – Francine Lee from Bumblee's :). Fran creates the most gorgeous artisan marmalades, jams, vinegars and chutneys right here in beautiful Somerset and now we’ve tried them, basically there’s no going back! We spotted some of Fran’s preserves in the Hauser & Wirth shop

Rebecca Bruton - Four Thoughts

Feb 11, 2018
4 min

Rebecca Bruton - Four Thoughts

We're always on the look out for something a little bit different and we always keep our eyes open for art in unusual places, so this week our heads were well and truly turned by a unique exhibition of textile art. No... it's not in one of our Somerset galleries. It's actually in Yeovil Hospital and that meant we just had to catch up with artist Rebecca Bruton, to find out more about what she's created there - and to ask her some other juicy questions as well! ;) Rebecca's pa

Six of the best creative workshops - part 1

Feb 4, 2018
7 min

Six of the best creative workshops - part 1

2018 brings a new arrival to the blog - oh yes! We’re starting a series of features called ‘Six of the best’ and our first one (spread over two parts) is dedicated to six brilliant creative workshops in Somerset. In here, you'll find lots of fab stuff to try your hand at across our county, whether you live here or are just visiting - we’ve been up and down the length and breadth of it over the past few months, seeking out the very best of the best things to try. So, if you fa

Yeovil Town FC - Fourth Round Four Thoughts

Jan 23, 2018
2 min

Yeovil Town FC - Fourth Round Four Thoughts

Friday night's a big night in Somerset and this week, it's an even bigger night if you're a Glovers fan! Manchester United are coming to town... to Yeovil Town in the fourth round of the FA Cup, and it's going to be unmissable. The match is sold out, it's on BBC 1 at 7.30pm if you haven't got a ticket and as it's Round Four, we thought it'd be great to do a Four Thoughts interview with the club before Friday night's showdown. Yeovil Town's Press Officer Alex O’Loughlin stopp

Reclaimed - Wassail Theatre

Jan 20, 2018
5 min

Reclaimed - Wassail Theatre

We’ve never had our home flooded – thank bleep! And we’ve never had to experience something as shattering as the Somerset floods of 2013/14. The unrelenting rain gave new meaning to the word torrential. The most rain we’ve had in England for 230 years saw the Levels become lakes, businesses ruined and communities frightened for their safety… with some trapped, then evacuated and unable to get back into their homes for months and months on end. It was a controversial moment in

It's a wonderful (wild) life!

Jan 7, 2018
6 min

It's a wonderful (wild) life!

Meet this (not so) little chap. A Whooper Swan. Absolutely beautiful isn’t he? Well, before last week we had no idea these stunning creatures existed, let alone that they could be seen in Somerset if you know where to look – or more accurately, if you have an expert to show you! ;) We discovered a whole ‘bevvy’ of Whoopers visiting from Iceland and so much more, when we went out onto the Levels on a wildlife tour with brilliant guide Stephen Hembery of Wildlife Somerset. Step

A Winter weekend away, with Ted

Dec 31, 2017
5 min

A Winter weekend away, with Ted

A few weeks ago, our head was well and truly turned. By Ted. He stole a piece of our heart too… but don’t panic, you haven’t accidentally stumbled across our other 'secret romantic confessions' blog (that doesn’t exist, you’ll be relieved to hear) ;). Ted is actually a truly amazing Shepherds Hut, nestled in the stunning Somerset countryside of the Mendip Hills, just outside Wells. He’s a very special rural retreat and a bit of a mystery too, as there’s no sign and definitely

Adventures & Tea Parties - creativity, colour & awesome accessories

Nov 23, 2017
5 min

Adventures & Tea Parties - creativity, colour & awesome accessories

We love adventures and we love tea parties (especially when there’s shed loads of cake involved!), so I guess we were always going to get on like a flipping house on fire with Jo Payne - the awesome designer/maker behind the brilliant brand 'Adventures & Tea Parties'. Jo’s stuff first caught my eye on Instagram. Her feed is so full of colour, life and happiness and I really look forward to seeing what she posts in the mornings... to kick start my day with an injection of all

The Silver Shed - Four Thoughts

Nov 15, 2017
3 min

The Silver Shed - Four Thoughts

A little while ago, I fell in love with this beautiful design... by the light of a silvery moon. It's magical, right? I'd spied it on Instagram and as well as putting it on my wish (upon a star) list, I knew I needed to chat to the awesome maker who created it - and to find out a bit more about her. So, this Four Thoughts is dedicated to Gemma Atwell - the Bath-based, Somerset cool creative behind The Silver Shed. Here's what Gemma had to say when we asked her four questions

The only Cheddar made in Cheddar! The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company

Nov 13, 2017
7 min

The only Cheddar made in Cheddar! The Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company

Ahh – cheese, glorious Cheddar cheese! Nothing quite like it, right? We’ve flirted with Stilton, had our heads turned by Brie, but Cheddar absolutely has our hearts. So, if we could, we’d probably bear hug the guys who discovered the unique method of production ‘Cheddaring’ and invented the first Cheddar cheese, in the Somerset village of Cheddar in 1170! Well, wind the clock forward a few hundred years and today, there’s only one team of cheesemakers creating authentic Chedd

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