South African billionaire Koos Bekker has transformed a quiet corner of Somerset into a expansive private domain, sparking friction with residents who fear their local character is being eroded. Bekker, the chair of the technology giant Naspers, holds a net worth of approximately £3 billion. Through his company, Emily Estate (UK) Limited—which trades as the Newt—he has accumulated over 2,700 acres (1,090 hectares) of land in the vicinity of Bruton and Castle Cary. Which feature a maze of apple trees twisted into perfect shapes using the espalier method, it’s easy to feel that all is well in this quiet, picturesque pocket of England, walking through his peaceful manicured gardens. Visitors to the £800-a-night Newt hotel are invited to enjoy being immersed in the nature of deep Somerset.
The expansion has gone far beyond the walls of his initial investment, the 17th-century Hadspen House, which he purchased in 2013 and converted into a high-end hotel. Last year, he acquired the Grade II-listed Yarlington Lodge, refitting the property to accommodate 32 guests with amenities including a cinema room, swimming pool, and tennis court. Beyond these estates, Bekker has moved into the commercial heart of local villages, acquiring high street businesses such as beauty parlours and delicatessens, alongside several local pubs. Where the local cider sets tongues wagging, you’ll hear a very different story, but if you venture beyond the orchards and into the local pubs. Along with 16 acres of land, converting it into the luxury hotel, bekker bought the 17th-century manor Hadspen House in 2013.
This aggressive footprint has drawn sharp criticism, with some observers labeling the influence “arrogant and brazen.” Tensions are visible at the local train station, where the signage now reads “Castle Cary for the Newt.” Food writer Hugh Thomas remarked that the branding feels like a form of colonization of a public service. Adjacent to the tracks, the Newt has opened a Creamery cafe that charges £45 per person for afternoon tea in a vintage Pullman carriage, contributing to local anxieties about rising costs. Residents worry that traditional venues, such as The George pub, will lose their affordability now that the estate has taken ownership, especially given that a single bag of chocolate buttons at the estate’s farm shop retails for £11.95. Fashion designer Stella McCartney, and broadcaster Mariella Frostrup, the area boasts famous residents including former chancellor George Osborne. But local people do not expect these prices will remain now the Newt has bought the inn: a bag of chocolate buttons in its farm shop costs £11.95, while a bottle of “cyder” grown on the estate is £12.50, the George pub in the centre of Castle Cary currently serves senior citizens a hot dinner for just £12. Some, though, have welcomed the investment, saying it has cheered up a previously unloved train station and the Bekker family were creating jobs as well as bringing new people to the area to eat in the restaurants and drink in the pubs.
Environmental concerns are also mounting. Locals have formed a group to address an apparent increase in flooding, which they believe is exacerbated by the estate’s road construction and land management. The situation peaked in May 2023 when flash-flooding tore through the Pitt and Cam valleys. Local authorities declared an emergency that night, noting the event exceeded anything in living memory. The estate has acknowledged these issues, stating it has been digging pools to manage water run-off from its paved areas and farmland.
Agriculture and wildlife practices at the estate have faced similar scrutiny. Although the hotel promotes its food as “locally produced,” the farms lack organic certification. Local resident and model Gabriella Wilde expressed disappointment over reports that the estate utilizes “harmful chemicals” in its farming, noting this contradicts the nature-friendly image projected to guests. Additionally, neighbor and cider-maker Oliver Dowding has engaged in negotiations with the Environment Agency regarding the drying up of sections of the River Brue, which he attributes to the estate’s new boreholes. Dowding noted, with some irony, that the newts for which the estate is named have vanished from his own land.
Efforts to introduce wildlife have also been labeled as performative. The estate consulted rewilding expert Derek Gow regarding the housing of five red squirrels in a cage. Gow criticized the project, stating it is not a viable conservation effort and that the animals are merely there for guest entertainment, warning that any release would likely lead to the squirrels contracting fatal squirrelpox from the invasive grey squirrel population.
Access remains a point of contention for those living nearby. While the estate boasts elaborate Roman villas and treetop walkways, these grounds are restricted to hotel guests and those willing to pay an £85 annual pass fee, effectively cutting off public access to large swaths of the local landscape. Resident Emma Sykes summarized the growing sentiment: “I don’t want to live somewhere that’s just one man’s estate.”
In response to the mounting criticism, a spokesperson for the Newt stated that the organization remains dedicated to a philosophy of respecting the land and sharing its gardens with a broad audience. The representative emphasized the estate’s commitment to the local community, noting they employ over 650 people who reside in the area and maintain active relationships with local organizations.
