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Extras
Catering
As a mum of four small children, I realise that a self-catering holiday can sometimes be a busy time in the kitchen for the cooks in the family! Here at Lavender Barn, we have linked up with several lovely ladies to give plenty of options to make life a bit easier in the kitchen! After all, a holiday has to be a holiday for everyone!
Select Catering
We have teamed up with Gayla at Select Catering and are pleased to be able to offer a fabulous menu of both ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook delicious meals. Gayla is an experienced caterer and uses local, seasonal produce in her meals, wherever possible. Select catering will also, if you require, provide a fully catered service, where Gayla will cook and serve the meals in the Barn.
On receipt of the balance for your holiday, we send a copy of the Select Catering Menu, for you to be able to browse. If you require anything from the menu, simply pop a cheque in the post and the meals will be in the fridge on your arrival at the Barn.
- For a sample of the Ready To Eat menu... click here
- For a sample of the Catered menu... click here
Where To Buy Local Food
'Food miles matter, because local food is miles better'.
The amount and quality of local farm shops and opportunities for buying local food is staggering! It really is possible to not enter a supermarket on a visit to West Hayes and still have some pennies left! In Somerset you can buy loads of great local food at really competitive prices!!
From The Producer!
Source and Somerset Local Food Direct. Source is a wonderful, innovative co-operative of Exmoor and Quantock producers. It has been created to inform you about and to deliver quality local produce. Source has joined forces with Somerset Local Food Direct to enable you to order our great local food and have it delivered to the barn for your holiday, just like Tesco, only local !!!
On confirmation of a booking we send a leaflet about the service.
www.localfooddirect.co.uk
Taunton Farmers Market
Taunton has a wonderful, weekly farmers market. It is held in the High Street area of town, from 9.30 until 3.30 every Thursday. It is a large farmers market and many local producers regularly sell there.
Some highlights are Wallace's venison, Tower Farms cheese, Common Loaf spelt bakery and a great organic fruit and veg stall.
www.tauntontowncentre.co.uk
The Fruit and Flower Basket
Barely 1.5 miles from the barn, close to the steam railway station, is this fantastic farm shop. Here you can buy local fruit, veg, deli and frozen items. They cook a lot of the produce on-site in their kitchens. Their homemade quiche is delicious!
www.thefruitandflowerbasket.com
Pampering
For the ultimate in relaxation why not indulge in a spot of pampering!
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Cedar Falls
Only two miles from the Lavender Barn is one of the south west premier spas, great for day/half day treats! www.cedarfalls.co.uk -
My Personal Sanctuary
Will come and do pampering and treatments in the comfort of Lavender Barn. www.mypersonalsanctuary.co.uk
Where To Eat
You do not have to travel very far from the barn to enjoy some fab food! There are many pubs, restaurants and take-aways, enabling you to eat wherever and whatever you wish.
Pubs
Here are selections of pubs which are recommended at the moment. Obviously owners and managers change from time to time, so feel free to ask us nearer to your holiday for recommendations.
The New Inn - Halse 4 mins walk
Our local in the village of Halse is a fabulous pub. With a contemporary, relaxing, convivial bar and a stylish restaurant. There is a small patio area and dogs/children are welcome. The New Inn is a great venue for a few drinks, a wonderful dinner or a relaxing Sunday lunchtime drink with the children!
The Globe - Milverton 2 miles/ 1 hour hilly walk
The Globe is a great eating pub! It is the buzz pub of the moment! Serving great food in a calm bar and restaurant. It has more of a wine bar feel than other locals.
Carew Arms - Crowcombe - approx 15 min drive
Crowcombe is another stunning conservation village, nestling at the bottom of the Quantocks. This thriving, large village pub has a lovely, child friendly garden with stunning views and a spacious skittle alley with a pool table. Both the bar and restaurant food is delicious.
Blueball Inn - Triscombe - approx 10 mins drive
Shortly before Crowcombe is another great pub at the foot of the Quantocks. The Blueball is a renowned award winning pub, serving delightful meals. The location is stunning!
Rising Sun - West Bagborough - approx 10 mins drive
The Rising Sun is another super pub, in the foothills of the Quantocks. It has a lovely menu, no garden but delightful benches at the front of the pub on the lane.
The Farmers Arms - Combe Florey - approx 5/10 mins drive
The Farmers Arms is in a great position, within sight of the West Somerset Steam Railway, perfect for trainspotters, young and old!!! It is a thatched pub, very family friendly, serving good pub food in a great spot.
www.farmersarmsatcombeflorey.co.uk
Restaurants
Taunton itself has lots of restaurants of all styles, nationalities and to suit all budgets. There are also a number of notable country house style restaurants in more rural locations. I have details of lots more in the barn or ask if you have any special requests. There are also a couple of great web guides to local restaurants:
www.thisissomerset.co.uk
www.sugarvine.co.uk
The Castle - Taunton 6 miles
This renowned restaurant and hotel is situated in a stunning building, indeed the old castle, in the heart of the town. The menu is fantastic, using local produce prepared by some great chefs. It is fairly formal, so don your best togs and book well in advance!
The Sanctuary - Taunton 6 miles
This stylish wine bar style restaurant offers a great lunch and evening menu. The restaurant is in the heart of town, in a charming period building on a side street. The restaurant is both quirky and comfy, combining the best of both styles. The food is delicious, with scrummy puds!
Podshavers - Nr Bishops Lydeard approx 3 miles
This is our fav restaurant! Situated in a simple barn, Podshavers (a cricket bat making term!) is a delight. Popular, you need to book well in advance, I believe is it one of the area's best kept secrets! It serves exquisite food in contemporary surroundings. The fish is fab!!
No website. Tel. 01823 433556
Clavelshay Barn - North Petherton approx 30 mins
This restaurant is in the stunning Quantock Hills. It is a great venue, either for a Sunday lunch or a dinner. Serving home grown meat and veg!
Taxis
A1
01823 274834
Wivey Taxis
01823 400009
Monument Cabs
0845 250654
Days out with the Children
Lavender Barn is a perfect holiday location for families. With such easy access to the Quantock Hills, Exmoor and The Blackdown Hills, you can easily get out and about for some great walks, cycle rides, picnics and adventures. Perfect! Somerset has heaps of great attractions for children of all ages such as animal parks, theme parks, museums and of course the beaches! Please see our What To Do page! There are countless days out suitable for children of all ages.
Days in with the Children
Lavender Barn is well equipped in all respects for family holidays! In the sitting room is a television with the full Sky package and of course the all important CBeebies! Necessary for those early morning CBeebies moments! The DVD player comes complete with a selection of DVDs for all ages! In all the bedrooms there are televisions with freeview, again perfect for those early mornings!
We can provide age graded baskets of toys for the children as well as cards and games for children and grown ups! On a safety matter, spare sockets are filled with socket guards! There is plastic cutlery, plates and beakers in the kitchen, as well as a blender for whizzing up baby food!
The garden at Lavender Barn is totally enclosed and has a great wooden play area, we can also provide a selection of garden toys suitable for younger children, i.e. trikes, playhouse and see-saw. Lavender Barn is equipped with lots and lots for children to do! Perfect for those days on holiday when you just don't want to get in the car!
Baby and Child Bits and Bobs!
Having four small children of our own, we understand how much you need to take away on holiday when the children are little! In fact the car boot can easily fill up only with the baby's packing!
To hopefully make your life easier, we can let you borrow an enormous amount of baby and child accessories!
Listed below are the items you can borrow. Please let us know at the time of booking what you require!
- Travel Cots (please provide bedding)
- Toddler Ready Beds
- Bed Guards
- Highchairs
- Booster Seats for the table
- Steriliser
- Changing Mats
- Baby Bath
- Bath Mats
- Baby Chair Bouncer
- Three Wheel Pushchair
- Lightweight Buggy
- Monitor
- Back Pack Carrier
