British hospitality brand, The Signet Collection, has revealed the design details of its second hotel, The Retreat at Elcot Park, launching in spring 2022.
Housed in a Grade II-listed 18th-century building located between Hungerford and Newbury, The Retreat has a storied past, once being the childhood home of the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley.
London-based luxury interior design practice, Taylor and Turner, is the creative lead behind its transformation, which nods to both the history and location of the picturesque country house. Tasked with a fun, escapist and element-of-surprise oriented brief, the result is a design that is both classic, contemporary, and filled with unexpected twists.
Guest accommodation
The Retreat will be home to 55 characterful and comfortable bedrooms, including three suites, all celebrating its individual heritage. Each room is a celebration of the very best of British design, with many of the rooms containing eclectic antiques sourced by local dealers. Whilst antique furniture and traditional elements remain throughout, punches of colour, fun and the unexpected are clearly visible in each of the rooms. Guests will be spoilt for choice when choosing from views over the Wessex Downs, the gardens, or picturesque courtyards.
Each floor has a theme, with rooms named after champion racehorses, famous jockeys, local points of interest, or nods to British country pursuits such as: shooting, fishing, hunting and racing. Meanwhile, the three Signature Suites are decorative and named after previous inhabitants of the country house: the Sutton, Bushby Bacon (a family suite), and the Percy Shelley.
The Bushby Bacon Suite, an expansive two-bedroom family suite with an open plan bathroom, is dedicated to one of The Retreat’s earliest inhabitants. Elegant and refined, the suite features a contemporary four poster bed with a navy and cream interior with pelmet and simple pleating, set against red and blue Braquenié’s Toile des Indes wallpaper by Pierre Frey.
The suite leads through to the children’s bedroom where curtained orange bunk beds take center stage, against hand-painted striped walls. The bedrooms connect to a stylish white bathroom with a freestanding marble bathtub surrounded by bay windows.
A spectacularly elegant suite dedicated to one of the major English Romantic poets, The Percy Shelley Suite boasts bold and expressive décor with statement vintage Morris & Co wallpaper. Contrasting sage green woodwork matches the tone of the freestanding bath which sits in front of a large window overlooking the gardens. The suite contains traditional fittings including antique dressing table with chair, as well as a refined bed with tester.
Public spaces
Similarly to The Mitre, the designers have placed emphasis on the entrance hall being a place for reading and relaxation. Mohair blue sofas, traditional seating, yellow cushions and Titley and Marr green curtains make for a cosy atmosphere.
Complemented by the beige walls, many of the existing fittings and furnishings have been restored, such as the teak wooden flooring. Guests are met by a hand-painted map of the local area illustrating the abundance of British pursuits on The Retreat’s doorstep.
Meanwhile, to the right of the grand entrance, a quote from one of Percy Shelley’s poems adorns the walls, reflecting the property’s literature and arts heritage. The result is a quintessentially British feel with an informal, playful twist where guests will quickly feel at home.
The Atlas Room, located through the entrance area, is dedicated to Percy Shelley’s love for travel. Worldly paintings of hot air balloons are a subtle reminder that The Retreat is one of the best launching spots for hot air ballooning in the UK. Light streams through large bay windows, illuminating the world maps, exotic prints, and the sage green walls.
Elements of British design include Clarence House fabrics, traditional chintz, and floral cushions. Individual seating areas have been created with comfy armchairs where guests can enjoy afternoon tea on palm tree plates, or simply read and relax.
All things culinary will have pride of place at The Retreat, which will open with a Whiskey room, two private dining spaces and two restaurants: Yü, a Pan-Asian restaurant, and 1772, an all-day-dining Brasserie.
Filled with plants, natural light, leafy green and wooden furnishings, The Orangery will be the hotel’s third restaurant and launch in Q4 2022.
Spa
The ground floor will boast an impressive Health Club, including hydrotherapy pools, three treatment rooms, a steam room & sauna, large gym, spin studio and a relaxation area. The tone and textures in the spa exude a feeling of calm, in contrast to the women’s changing room, however, which is unexpected, playful, and fun, and inspired by the 1950s boudoir.
“Elcot Park has a fascinating, long and rich history. It has been a huge privilege to be entrusted with creating a new chapter in its story with Hector and the brilliant team at Signet,” comments Anneke Gilkes and Harriette Cayzer, Taylor & Turner.
“We have endeavoured to respect its past whilst ensuring that the design practicalities meet the rigorous standards of the modern day. Our ethos has been rooted in creating a retreat for any age offering complete escapism and a sense of fun.”
