Country Homes & Interiors – September 2019

FEATURE

PATRICK HAMILTON COURTNEY

LIVE LIFE WELL

COUNTRY HOMES & INTERIORS 129

The University Arms

ENJOY AN OPULENT CITY BREAK AT CAMBRIDGE’S MOST LUXURIOUS HOTEL

F

orgottenbymuchof

Cambridgeformanyyears,

TheUniversityArms– thecity’s

oldesthotel– hadbeenneglected

andwasvictimofa strangeflirtation

witha modernistwingintheSixties.

Luckily,newowner-developersset

aboutrestoringit toitsimpressive

19th-centuryglorylastyear.Now,

withtheuglyextensionbanished,

thesmartoriginalfaçaderestored

anda topdesignertakingcharge

oftheglamorousinteriors,thehotel

hasregaineditsreputationasthe

bestaddressintown.Anidyllic

spotforcountryfolkseekinga city

break,it’salsoa populardestination

among brunching locals and families

stoppingoverfora nightwhile

visitingthecity’svariousuniversities,

collegesandschools.

CITYSETTINGThehotelis seton

Parker’sPiece,a smallstretchof

parklandintheheartofCambridge,

linedonallsidesbyattractiveperiod

terraces.It’sa lovelysettingforcity

accommodation,ascertainsuites

overlookthegreenandprovide

a soothinghitofbucolicbliss.All

ofCambridge’smostinteresting

attractionsareaneasywalkfrom

thehotel,andtheRiverCamis just

afewstreetsover– perfectfor

post-breakfastmorningstrolls.

STUDIOUSOPULENCEInteriorsman

ofthemomentMartinBrudnizkiwas

chargedwiththetaskofrevamping

theproperty,andhisworkhereis a

studyincollegiatecharm.Original

featureshavebeenpreservedand

restored,includingmahogany

fireplaces, stained glass and

decorativemoulding.Somerooms

aretastefullythemedaroundformer

andcurrentstudentsandresidents

ofthecity,suchasStephen Hawking

andCharlesDarwin.

MODERNTAVERNBrudnizki’s

intelligentstylingcontinues

intothehotel’srestaurant,Parker’s

Tavern,whichtakesitsdesignethos

fromthemostsophisticatedof

dininghalls.Overseenbychef

TristanWelch,therestaurantserves

a menuofseasonalBritishcomfort

foodandculinaryclassics.Find

dishessuchasroastedpilchards,

fishcakes,honeyandthymeNorfolk

duck,andbrownbutteredsole.

Besuretotrythericepudding

souffle– a sophisticatedtakeon

nostalgicschoollunchpuddings.

TheUniversityArms,Parker’s

Tavern,RegentStreet,Cambridge

CB21AD, 01223606266

universityarms.com

FITZWILLIAM

MUSEUM

Anartandantiquities

powerhouse,thisgallery

holdsmorethanhalf

a millionspectacular

works– fromEgyptian

artefactstoPicassos

and van Goghs.

CAMBRIDGE

BOTANICGARDEN

Supervisedbythe

UniversityofCambridge’s

departmentofplant

sciences,theseenchanting

gardensholdnumerous

nationalplantcollections

of rare species.

COLLEGETOURS

AvisittoCambridge

wouldn’tbecomplete

withouta nosyaround

someofitsancient

collegeswiththeir

stunningarchitecture.

VisitCambridgeoffers

private walking tours.

Bedroomshave

a studious,yet

calming atmosphere

Enjoyyourfavourite

pre-dinnertipplein

the club-style bar

A WEEKEND AWAY AT

While youÕre there...

Atlast,thehotel

hasbeenreturned

to its former glory