International edition Finance & trade

Saturday, 10 October 2026

National Trade News

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Policy & regulation

How a South African billionaire is turning a corner of Somerset into ‘one man’s estate’

National Trade News policy desk (2026-10-10): 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… Primary source: original at The Guardian (theguardian.com).

· The Guardian

How a South African billionaire is turning a corner of Somerset into ‘one man’s estate’

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.

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.

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