Brief
South African billionaire Koos Bekker expands Somerset estate amid local opposition
Bekker’s purchases through Emily Estate (UK) Limited have drawn criticism from locals over expansion, pesticide use and commercial naming of the train station.
By Felo News Desk · Published
South African billionaire Koos Bekker, chair of technology firm Naspers, has acquired more than 2,700 acres (1,090 hectares) of land around Bruton and Castle Cary in Somerset, England, according to analysis by The Guardian. The expansion, carried out through his company Emily Estate (UK) Limited, which trades as the Newt, has provoked a row with local residents over the scale of the development, pesticide application and branding deals that have seen the nearby train station renamed after his hotel.
What happened
Bekker first bought the 17th‑century manor Hadspen House and 16 acres in 2013, converting the property into a luxury hotel. In the last year he added Yarlington Lodge, a Grade II‑listed Georgian house a mile away, which now operates as a 32‑guest venue with a pool, tennis court and cinema. The latest acquisitions bring his total holdings to more than 2,700 acres, encompassing orchards, high‑street businesses such as a deli and a beauty parlour, former farmhouses and local pubs.
What the reports add
The Guardian notes that the estate’s apple orchards are shaped using the espalier method, creating a maze of twisted trees. It also reports that the local train station, Castle Cary, now displays the sign “Castle Cary for the Newt”, and that a new Creamery café has opened by the tracks serving afternoon tea. Prices in the area have risen, with a bag of chocolate buttons in the farm shop costing £11.95 and a bottle of estate‑produced “cyder” priced at £12.50, according to the outlet.
What was said
The article quotes a local resident who described the branding deals as “brazen”. It also mentions that the Newt estate is popular with celebrities such as Charli XCX and Kate Moss, though no direct statements from Bekker or his representatives are included.
How it came about
Bekker’s investment follows his long‑standing involvement in the UK property market and his role as chair of Naspers, one of the world’s largest technology firms. The expansion builds on earlier purchases, including the 2013 acquisition of Hadspen House, and reflects a broader trend of high‑net‑worth individuals acquiring rural estates in Britain.
Key facts
- Koos Bekker has bought more than 2,700 acres (1,090 hectares) around Bruton and Castle Cary. (theguardian.com)
- The purchases are made through Emily Estate (UK) Limited, trading as the Newt. (theguardian.com)
- Local train station signage now reads “Castle Cary for the Newt”. (theguardian.com)
- Bekker converted Hadspen House into a luxury hotel in 2013 and added Yarlington Lodge last year. (theguardian.com)
- Residents have criticised the estate’s pesticide use and branding deals. (theguardian.com)
Sources
- [1] theguardian.com — originally reported as “How a South African billionaire is turning a corner of Somerset into ‘one man’s estate’”
