Celebrated table

Holm

A seasonally driven Modern British kitchen in Somerset, helmed by Nicholas Balfe and recognized in the 2026 Good Food Guide.

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The story

Holm Restaurant South Petherton | Modern British Dining & Good Food Guide Recognition

A rural base in Somerset

Holm sits in South Petherton as a deliberate step away from the urban kitchens where chef Nicholas Balfe built his reputation. This Modern British restaurant operates entirely on West Country seasons, pulling ingredients directly from surrounding farmsteads and trusted suppliers. The menu shifts constantly, guided by whatever arrives fresh at the door. Staff members know exactly how Dan Graham prepares each dish, ensuring every plate reflects the immediate harvest.

Lunch plates and evening mains

Daytime service often begins with crisply crumbed hogget croquettes served alongside tangy yoghurt and gherkins. A chilled bowl of beetroot, apple and feta offers a lighter alternative before moving to butterflied mackerel zigzagged with aïoli. The kitchen treats British cuisine with straightforward techniques, pairing pork loin with charred pear or serving Cornish sea bass simmered in brown butter with pumpkin. Vegetarian guests frequently choose gnocchi tossed with girolles, while roasted pink firs arrive dressed in chimichurri.

Terrazzo floors and plaster walls

The interior design strips back traditional pub decor in favor of pale tones and natural textures. Terrazzo flooring runs beneath tables set against walls of distressed plasterwork adorned with small framed abstract paintings. Blond wood accents appear throughout the space, creating a calm backdrop that lets the food take center stage. Upstairs guest rooms follow the same restrained aesthetic, extending the quiet atmosphere beyond meal times.

Cellar selections and almond cakes

Dessert menus rotate between tarta de Santiago dusted with citrus, fig leaf panna cotta accompanied by stewed plums, and rich chocolate crémeux folded with honeycomb. These endings pair neatly with a concise yet imaginative wine list that invites careful exploration. Castlewood Vineyard sparklers from Devon provide a bright opening note, while fragrant cocktails round out the offering. This thoughtful execution secured a Very Good rating in the 2026 Good Food Guide.

Recognition

Awards & accolades

2026
The Good Food Guide
Very Good

Details

At a glance

The Good Food Guide 2026 — Very Good
Cuisines Modern British

History

On the record

2026
The Good Food Guide — Very Good

It's a mighty long way from the south London heartlands of Brixton and Peckham where Nicholas Balfe's other venues have been sited, but South Petherton in Somerset exudes its own contrasting charisma. In Holm, he has founded a rural enclave, where the kitchen can move in rhythm with the West Country seasons, the full gastronomic range of menu formats all driven by what is most tempting from surrounding farmsteads and suppliers. From the dining area to the guest rooms, the place has been done out with the lightest palette, with terrazzo flooring, blond wood, distressed plasterwork and small framed abstract shapes to look at. Staff are attentive, friendly and importantly informed about Dan Graham's intuitively poised dishes. Lighter lunch starters might take in crisply crumbed hogget croquette with yoghurt and gherkins, or a bowl of beetroot, apple and feta soup. Follow on with butterflied mackerel zigzagged with aïoli, or an accurately pink bavette with Isle of Wight tomatoes. Pair with a well-dressed bowl of local saladings, or roasted pink firs dabbed with chimichurri. Evening menus bring on the more substantial likes of pork loin with burnt pear, or Cornish sea bass with pumpkin in brown butter, while the vegetarian option might offer a fortifying assemblage of gnocchi with girolles and sweetcorn. We finished with an excellent tarta de Santiago (almond and citrus cake) with poached quince and crème fraîche, but there could be fig-leaf panna cotta with plums and shortbread, or chocolate crémeux and honeycomb. Fragrant cocktails and a concise yet imaginative wine list inspire confidence, and there's a fuller cellar list for deep-divers. Castlewood Vineyard's Devon sparklers in both colours should get the party started.

Established

Location

Find us

28 St James Street, South Petherton, Somerset, TA13 5BW
South Petherton, United Kingdom
01460 712470
Map showing Holm