Spelt

Taste of Barcelona at Spelt in Bampton

Donna and Paul Berry put Bampton on the culinary map when they took over The Swan in 2011. Now its sister restaurant, Spelt, is further burnishing the town’s reputation as a fully-fledged foodie destination.

While The Swan deals in award-winning pub dining (it’s scooped a plethora of gongs), Spelt is a creative take on the classic neighbourhood restaurant. Its casual set-up is inspired by the couple’s love of Barcelona and the city’s sociable tapas-grazing and vermouth-sipping culture.

Three individually styled dining areas create a unique and intimate setting for Paul and Donna’s smart-casual cooking. Dishes such as goat’s cheese arancini with sauce bolognaise and melt-in-the-middle meatballs are designed to be ordered for the table and fought-over with your dining companions.

Start supper with a tipple from the clever cocktail list or go full-Barca with a glass of Cava. Alternatively, simply revel in trying something new from a carefully picked selection of local spirits, beers and wines. And if you think that could lead to designated-driver disagreements, book ahead to bag one of the three comfortable guestrooms at The Swan. Combined with the delights of tramping over the wilds of Exmoor, this has the makings of a very attractive mini-break.