The Cape-Dutch-farmhouse-meets-boutique-hotel, Babylonstoren, is doing so well that Koos Bekker and partner Karen Roos decided to take some of that SA style across the pond.

You know Koos Bekker – the South African billionaire and Chairperson of Naspers, the largest media company outside of the US. He’s also the guy who led Naspers to invest in Chinese internet and media firm, Tencent.

Last year we told you that Bekker had acquired an English manor house in rural Somerset, UK.

Since then, Koos and Karen have been working hard to convert the manor house into a hotel with the same style and sophistication of Babylonstoren – and it looks like they’re just about ready to launch.

The Newt in Somerset will be open for bookings in July.

In the meantime, they got an excellent write-up in FT Weekend:

Let’s get in a little closer:

Fine, we’ll make it really easy and transcribe the good stuff:

Built between 1687 and 1689, Hadspen, the Grade II-listed house not far from the village of Pitcombe in Somerset, has been described as one of the most beautiful of its kind in southwestern England, with formal gardens that span the centuries punctuating its 300-plus acres, collectively known as the Emily Estate.

In 2013 it was rumoured to have been acquired by Johnny Depp – but in fact the buyer was Koos Bekker, the South African emerging-media billionaire who, with his wife, former Elle Decoration SA editor Karen Roos, created Babylonstoren (baylonstoren.com), the singular hotel-dining-garden destination on one of the oldest farms in the Cape Winelands.

The Newt will see Hadspen House converted into a hotel comprising 23 rooms, with all of them impeccably designed and decorated, naturally.

The various barns and granaries across the estate have been made over into a spa, cafe, restaurant and cider press. You can check them out on Instagram.

The gardens are open to the public and promise extensive woods, ponds and lakes, “feathery friends and deer”, and beautiful English country scenery.

If you’re interested in The Newt, you obviously appreciate the finer things in life. One of those things is the luxury of having something quality to read delivered to your door every weekend to enjoy with your morning coffee.

We’ve hooked up a special 2ov discount on FT Weekend for discerning readers.

SPECIAL OFFER

• 12 Month Subscription
  R3 150
  50 copies @ R63 (30% discount off subscription cover price of R90)
• 6 Month subscription
  R1 575
  25 copies @ R63 (30% discount off subscription cover price of R90)

So, how do you get in on this deal?

Email Bradlee Louw at louwb@timesmedia.co.za, with the subject “Hook me up with 2oceansvibe’s FT Weekend special”, and he will do the rest.

Nothing says ‘lord of the manor’ like a crisp morning paper, delivered to your door.