Successful South London chef Nicholas Balfe opens his first country restaurant next Wednesday, 10 November – Holm, at South Petherton near Crewkerne in Somerset.

Balfe, part of the trio behind Salon Brixton, who went on to launch Levan and Larry’s in Peckham, sees the new venture as a lifestyle change more than a business.

“Having spent my early years in Somerset and Dorset, I’m extremely passionate about the West Country,” he says. “I’ve been in London for the last 16 years and now I have a young family, I want them to be at one with the land as I was growing up. I want to take my children foraging and exploring beautiful natural surroundings offered by lush green countryside and scenery.” 

The restaurant is in a former bank building, with a wine cellar bar in the old vault. It will also accommodate a co-working space, and Balfe wants to encourage locals to drop in for a drink and snack in the snug. There will be an outdoor grill and terrace for summer use and a kitchen garden, with dining options that include a six-seat chef’s counter and a private dining room for up to 10 guests.