A Test Night at The Fellow's House, Cambridge: A New Hotel in the Curio Collection by Hilton
Nestled in the vibrant heart of Cambridge, The Fellows House – a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton – is more than just a place to rest your head. The hotel boasts a unique artwork collection, offering guests a visually thought-provoking experience. As you step into this unique establishment, you are not merely checking in; you are embarking on an artistic journey, full of vibrant stories of Cambridge’s most notable academics and fellows, past and present.
I was very fortunate enough to be invited to the hotel’s test night this week ahead of their official opening for a complimentary overnight stay, evening meal, drinks and breakfast the next morning.
On arrival, the staff gave an extremely warm welcome to all who were there for the hotel’s test night. The check-in process was smooth, with sunny smiles received at the check-in desk and from the friendly staff greeting guests in the general reception area. At this point, we were offered the chance to book on to the hotel tour which would not only cover a walk-around of the newly refurbished spaces but talk us through each piece of artwork that had been created for the hotel’s guest rooms, restaurant, cafe, bar and public spaces, something I would recommend to all those visiting The Fellows House.
(Side note: I had the privilege of working - as part of the wider Elegant Clutter Ltd team - on the curation, development and design of the hotel’s bespoke artwork package. As I was already very familiar with said artwork, it was the perfect opportunity to test the staff to see if they knew their stuff…and they absolutely did!)
The Folio bar
@joannemcgaffin
After dropping our bags into our rooms, we made our way back down to the reception, heading to the bar space for welcome drinks. I was 6 months pregnant at this time, but the evening’s carefully crafted cocktail menu had the non-alcoholic box ticked. The Folio Bar and surrounding public space is home to many famous faces of Cambridge; you can find stunning original paintings of Cambridge Fellow’s Alfred Tennyson and Davidson Nicol, intricate paper-cut pieces featuring some of Cambridge’s most famous architecture and a hand-painted wall mural of the University’s college badges. The main inspiration for the bar area draws upon
The Folio Bar & Kitchen restaurant sits alongside the bar, it’s light and bright interior a welcome contrast to the darker, but cosy bar space. Your eye is immediately drawn to the two large artwork collections on the far walls. On closer inspection, you will find a poem, ‘Taking Leave of Cambridge Again’, by Xu Zhimo, broken up into individual letters, words and sentences that can be read from left to right, across the two walls. This unique collection of artwork is the perfect back-drop whilst you sip on a carefully selected wine and enjoy a tasty meal. The menu offers British classics with a twist, rewriting the fine-dining experience with a selection of plant-based experiments as well as locally sourced and sustainable food and drink options.
The apartment-style hotel provides a number of guest room and suite options, all fully equipped for your stay. Living in a post-Covid world meant oversees travel dwindled somewhat and the stay-cation era was born. Hilton were quick to address this change, creating all of their room options to include a fully equipped kitchen area, living area and bathroom - a space in which you could spend more than just a night.
My room was spacious and well decorated, immediately giving a cosy, homely feel but also offering enough space for a small family to comfortably stay in for a couple of nights. The kitchen space, dining table and sofa were separate to the bedroom, where there was a welcoming, plush king-sized bed with luxurious bedding with my name on it!
The pristine bathrooms are fitted with relaxing rain showers and kitted out with The White Company’s ‘Noir’ collection of toiletry miniatures. DIVINE. (I ordered their double-wick candle from the same collection the moment I returned from Cambridge!) My only complaint here would be the lack of soap dishes! A minor detail to say the least, but it did result in a couple of games of chase-the-soap during my stay!
A unexpected plus to your stay at the hotel is The Sage of Cambridge Cafe, located at the front of the building. They pride themselves on being a “cafe for everyone” and speaking as a vegetarian/part-time vegan/nut-allergy sufferer, they are extremely inclusive of all dietary requirements. They source locally and ethically wherever possible, experimenting with plant-based dishes and healthy treats. An added bonus is not only the continuation of your art journey, but the events that The Sage holds throughout the course of the year, from wine and cheese tasting to summer holiday kids crafts!
To round-off your stay at The Fellow’s House, the hotel offers a luxury wellness area for those looking for a little down time after exploring the city. I sadly didn’t have the time to spend enjoying this area during my stay, but the space - tucked away from the other public areas of the hotel - consists of a fully-equipped gym, indoor pool, steam room and sauna, all adding to the home-away-from-home feel.
Whether you are looking for a mid-week stay for business, a family getaway or a romantic trip for two, The Fellow’s House has something to suit everyone. The flexible approach to apartment style living makes your stay as fuss free as possible, giving you the comforts of home whilst indulging in a little bit of luxury. You can be sure to leave armed with all of the fantastic history and culture of the city and it’s notable residents, whilst immersing yourself in some original artwork.
Current prices (as of July 2024) and accommodation types can be found here, at The Fellow’s House website.
The Folio bar & kitchen
@joannemcgaffin