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Both the original and new architectural detailing is traditional clap boarding and the building is marked throughout by ancient timbers, surviving areas of carefully protected Tudor decorated plaster work, and uneven floored corridors. The original areas have been very simply treated allowing the magnificence of the original to show through. The building has good bones, even though they do make for rooms that are of very uneven size, ranging from the tiny to the large.
Sensibly the owners have made shower rooms that are in general a good size and sparkle in contemporary chrome and glass. On the top floor a new suite has been created that is generous in size, with a large and luxurious bathroom with large soaking tub and walk-in indulgent shower. In the newer sixties extension the original ham-fisted planning remains giving ludicrously poky bathrooms.
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Crisply designed showerrooms make the most ofthe available space. Click to see a non-standard bedroom
Standard for all rooms is a desk and flatscreeen TV - although sockets for laptops etc are badly positioned below the desk. Click to see a new mezzanine bedroom in the larger business rooms
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It is a shame that the advice they were given that changing the planning would have involved structural alterations has inhibited the owners, as opportunity has been taken to create more space by making an interesting mezzanine bed area in the same rooms. Unfortunately whilst the planning of the overall hotel has been good the rooms have not had their tiny bathroom enlarged, and some of the furniture looks very domestic letting down the sensitive treatment elsewhere.
Bar and dining areas have been handled much more confidently and a window has been created into the kitchen so that the chefs can be seen in action. The hotel chain will produce its own range of produce and the kitchen is intended to be the heart of the hotel. Already the stylish bistro is popular and is well designed to work at all times of the day. A nicely detailed half round door enables a private dining room to be created, and also allows the space to serve for the breakfast buffet. Waiter and maitre d’ points are well sited allowing easy control and the full height windows all open onto the courtyard to allow the outside terrace to be used in England’s occasional summers.
"the stylish bistro is popular and is well designed to work at all times of the day"
The wealth of character in the original older parts of the building make for an hotel of abundant charm, with open fires promising delightful cosy corners in the winter months whilst the use of glass throughout allows natural daylight to flood in. The original timber beams and columns have been simply treated allowing their style and age to speak to the viewer, and the use of a modern reception desk and sculpture in reception serves as a sensitive counterpoint to ancient oak, each enhancing the other with easy informality.
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