A HUSBAND and wife running a restaurant in the heart of the South Somerset countryside have unveiled exciting expansion plans.

Alasdair Clifford and Victoria Collins have recently acquired a period farmhouse and 0.38 acres of farmland adjacent to The Barrington Boar.

The plot features a large garden and several outbuildings, including a former cider barn and hayloft.

The couple will be planting native Somerset fruit trees this summer.

Alasdair and Victoria, who expect to start work on the buildings early next year. are looking to build a bakery, further accommodation and a market garden to supply the kitchen in the outlet in Main Street, Barrington.

They are also in the process of converting a large section of the upstairs of the restaurant into a private dining area that will be launching at the end of May.

The extra space for 24 diners will allow them to host larger private events, provide overspill for the main restaurant and give them space to enlarge their bar area for pre-meal drinks and village pub regulars. The total dining capacity for the restaurant will rise to 60.

The plans come after The Barrington Boar was recommended in the 2022 edition of the Michelin Guide for the UK and Ireland.

The country restaurant, which also has rooms, offers modern British cooking and refined comfort food in the heart of the South Somerset countryside.

The Times called it "one of the best 30 places for a pub lunch in the UK".

The kitchen is run by Alasdair, who grew up locally and has over ten years' experience working in Michelin starred restaurants, including Chez Bruce, Harwood Arms and The Glasshouse.

His menu focuses on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, the majority of which are from Somerset, from the local farmers, foragers, brewers and cheesemongers living within a few miles of the restaurant.

During lockdown, the team landscaped their garden to create a comfortable alfresco dining and drinking area, surrounded by bee-friendly, sensory plants and herbs.

They also took the opportunity to redecorate their four en suite bed and breakfast rooms, one of which is now dog-friendly and which are all a few metres walk from the main building and housed in the pub's original skittle alley.