PlanetSTORY FILE
How a South African billionaire is turning a corner of Somerset into ‘one man’s estate’
<p>Koos Bekker’s Newt estate encompasses luxury hotels, pubs and high street business, with local concerns including flooding</p><p>When South African billionaire Koos Bekker bought an old country estate in a sleepy corner of Somerset to turn it into a luxury hotel, residents thought it was a sign their area was on the up.</p><p>Walking through his peaceful manicured gardens, 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.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2026/oct/10/how-a-south-african-billionaire-is-turning-a-corner-of-somerset-into-one-mans-estate">Continue reading...</a>
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