The George Hotel

The George Hotel was originally a Georgian coaching house. The building’s primary use hasn’t changed over the centuries and it’s now an independent hotel. Recently purchased by Roberta Goody, a writer and creative who lives in the local area. Amidst the backdrop of lockdowns and restrictions, the design brief called for escapism, transporting guests to another time and place. Our work was focused on the ground floor public areas; reception, bar, restaurant and orangery; with the aim of creating a destination F&B business tailored to both the local market and guests of the hotel.

Narrative is at the heart of the concept. In envisioning the hotel, we wrote a story; a love affair, set amongst the atmosphere of Victorian England, between George and Mary. Their journey through life is woven through the fabric of the space; George with his love of travel and engineering; Mary with her love of botanical studies and writing.

Each space has its own point of reference in the story; the bar, a gentlemans club with patent illustrations and deep leather bench seats; the orangery, a botanical garden room; the restaurant reflects their travels, with colonial inspired rattan panelling, tropical planting and fossils; and the reception area, the study with a leather lined writing desk and oversized family portraits.

The end result provides a series of spaces that work independently and as a whole. The consideration given to every detail of the experience, from tableware and glassware to menu design and staff uniforms, provides guests with a seamless and rich experience.