Bruton, Somerset reportedly rivals Montecito, California for its’ celebrity filled streets (Image: Getty Images)
In recent months there has been much speculation about how relations are between , , and their neighbours in Montecito, California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to the area in 2020 after they left the Royal Family and have attempted to make the rich Californian neck of the woods their home.
Meanwhile, a search has been on to see if there is a similar community in the UK, a relatively small town or village that is celebrity dense.
According to reports, that place may have been found in the shape of Bruton, a small town in the heart of Somerset with a population of just over 2,000.
The tiny village which, according to , is “miles from anywhere”, is believed to be host to the likes of Aaron-Taylor Johnson, George Osborne, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Sarah Beeney. It was also famously visited by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019.
A view of Bruton in Somerset (Image: Getty)
As a result of the influx of privacy seeking celebs in recent years, fellow Somersetians have begun to feel like the odd ones out.
Speaking to , one local said: “I tried to make friends in Bruton, but I always felt like the odd one out for not having a nanny or a swimming pool.”
The influx of moneyed public figures means the price of properties and food are rising in the area as the local economy adjusts to residents with far greater spending power.
On Bruton’s property market, said: “The majority of properties sold in Bruton during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £671,286. Overall, the historical sold prices in Bruton over the last year were 26% up on the previous year and 3% down on the 2021 peak of £443,922.”
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Bruton was visited by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2019 (Image: Getty)
Although Bruton may now be ‘Britain’s Montecito’, there is more to the hallowed village than just who uses the post office. The Somerset tourism website says that it may be tiny but it is also “intense”.
Local places of interest include Bruton Abbey, the Hauser and Wirth gallery, and a dovecote that houses over 200 pigeons. Alongside this, it has three well known schools, making education one of Bruton’s biggest economic drivers.
Whilst an influx of celebrities has been a boon for the local economy, the potential arrival of another famous name has got residents up in arms after the council allowed Greggs to open an outlet.
Speaking to one resident exclaimed: “It’s like putting a sex shop in a secondary school. It’s appalling, it’s outrageous. I don’t think it should be here at all.”
Meanwhile, several locals defended the move, saying that it was a “well-needed addition” while another resident simply said simply: “You have to commend the prices. I’m not a huge fan of Greggs, but I do go in for a yum yum occasionally. I think they’re pretty good.”