Welcome to Mad Swans, a new countryside hangout redefining modern hospitality with eco-cabin stays, 12-hole golf, padel and pickleball, a driving range, putt patch, darts and more. Mad Swans’ first outpost will be situated amid the rolling Mendip Hills, just 40 minutes from Bristol Temple Meads and 30 minutes from Bath Spa.
Designed to spark real human connection, this playful new hotel and lifestyle concept reimagines social spaces as vibrant, inclusive hubs – where play transcends age and experience. Promising to transform the stuffy golf clubhouses of the past into lively neighbourhood spaces with fresh design, great food, and an open-armed welcome.
Constructed by the most formidable names in the hospitality industry, the whole venture originates from Joel Cadbury and Ollie Vigors (the duo behind Beaverbrook and the Bel & Dragon). It includes creative input from multi-Michelin starred chef and strategic investor, Ollie Dabbous.
A countryside golf destination, Mad Swans is built around a 12-hole course was recently renovated by internationally renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert, the team behind the transformations at Royal Portrush, Royal St George’s, Turnberry and advisers to eight of the ten Open Championship venues.
Eat & Drink: From Hearty Plates to Social Snacks
Food is at the heart of the Mad Swans experience and promises to be exceptional with a menu designed by celebrated chef Ollie Dabbous. The main restaurant, The Potting Shed, serves food as bucolic as its surroundings: countryside classics with a creative twist, all made with fantastic produce from local suppliers. Mad Swans’ other restaurant, The Hangout serves crisp, house-made pizzas (from £12), indulgent desserts, and inventive cocktails.
Both the indoor and outdoor spaces are designed for sharing and socialising, with a veranda vantage point which allows parents or friends to relax with a drink while still watching loved ones on the Putt Patch or pickleball court.
Stay: Nestled in Nature
Mad Swans eco cabins are tucked into nature and designed for simple, restorative stays. Looking out across the sprawling lands around Mad Swans, options include twin and double cabins.
Thoughtful details, modern comforts and a palette of greens, blues with pops of red create a small but perfectly formed retreat. The eco cabins feature large windows that frame the surrounding nature, queen-sized beds, a walk-in shower, radio player, and refreshment facilities. Amenities are supplied by Bramley, the award-winning British brand that reinforces the focus on sustainability and wellbeing.
Eight cabins will be available for guests at Mad Swans to enjoy, with further additions planned in the months ahead. Selected cabins are fully accessible.
Sustainability & Community
Sustainability is key, with energy-efficient practices, recycling, plans for solar panels, EV charging, and eco-bikes. Biodiversity is nurtured through rewilding, tree planting, beehives, and wildflower meadow restoration.
Community engagement extends through partnerships with schools and charities, golf and nature education programmes, and dedicated spaces for wellbeing. Kitchen gardens provide herbs and edible flowers for the menu, complemented by responsibly sourced local produce, while retail products are carefully chosen for their sustainability.
