Since the latest government plan to ease us out of lockdown was announced, all we’ve been able to think about is where we can go for a weekend away in the UK. The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire is a firm favourite amongst our team here and we’re going to show you a little sneak peek into their latest renovations, by the award-winning interiors studio, Martin Hulbert Design.
The Grove offers the ultimate five-star retreat. Lovingly restored, it is the former home of the Earls of Clarendon, with a rich history dating back to the 1500s. Offering guests a choice of 215 luxurious guestrooms, The Grove also features the award-winning Sequoia spa, a championship golf course, unique restaurants, an original Walled Garden which is home to a Kitchen Garden, a heated outdoor pool and ‘beach’ area, plus a wide selection of meeting and event spaces.
The recent redesign incorporates all three dining spaces. The Glasshouse, The Stables and The Lounges – as well as the lobby area and all 189 West Wing guest rooms.
The Glasshouse, The Glasshouse Bar & Lobby
The Grove Hotel is extremely well know for it’s Glasshouse restaurant, which has been entirely reimagined with the ultimate vision of bringing the outside in. The striking glasshouse exterior overlooks a manicured courtyard and lush hotel grounds. This complements an interior colour palette of warm, ochre yellow and rich earthy tones.
Plush velvets and rich leathers provide a welcoming setting in which guests can enjoy The Glasshouse’s theatrical gourmet dining experience, with seating arranged around the restaurant’s open kitchen and live cooking stations.
The neighbouring Glasshouse Bar, features a brand-new mirrored bar area. The bar space has been seamlessly incorporated into the hotel’s lobby area through the use of glass walls. This brings warmth to the newly-refreshed lobby and provides an immediate welcome for guests as they check-in.
The Lounges and The Stables
The Grove’s much-loved Lounges have also had a design overhaul. With the series of characterful drawing rooms at the heart of the 18th Century Mansion. Hulbert’s team were tasked with creating three unique but cohesive spaces in which guests can relax. Whether enjoying a cocktail or taking in the stunning views of the gardens over a traditional afternoon tea.
The first of the three rooms have been brought up to date with jewel-like teal blue hues, contrasting with the light, minimalist interiors of the lobby and providing a warm and inviting feel. Rich, textured fabrics including tweed and velvet have been used for upholstery, drapery and soft furnishings, while handmade Irish linen and eclectic artwork by emerging artists adorn the walls.
The Newspaper Room enjoys a neutral yet opulent colour palette. Combining gold, cream, browns and blues to create a soothing, sumptuous environment. A brand new mirrored and marble cocktail bar has been installed within an original feature alcove and in a nod to traditional Georgian interior styles, the walls have been decorated in a hand-finished painterly striped fabric.
The Library completes the trio of rooms and invites the verdant garden surrounds of The Grove inside, with a scheme of tonal greens and earthy hues. A hand-painted, bespoke fabric covers the walls of the curved, oval space, complemented with dark panelling and contemporary artwork.
The Grove’s Stables restaurant, currently the setting for Alpine-style pop-up restaurant ‘Jimmy’s Lodge at The Grove’, has also received a complete refresh, with warm tan leather seating and equine artwork as a nod to the late George Stubbs.
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West Wing Bedrooms
All 189 of The Grove Hotel’s West Wing bedrooms have been completely remastered in this refurbishment project. Hulbert has employed a bright and airy scheme of neutral tones in tandem with seasonal green and rich sepia, inspired by the endless English countryside outdoors. Bespoke, handwoven wall hangings sourced from Italy frame the king-size beds while velvet soft furnishings offer luxurious comfort and the ideal setting in which to unwind after a day spent exploring the grounds.
Martin Hulbert Design has completed a wide variety of residential and hotel projects around the world, including The Grove’s central London sister property The Athenaeum as well as Chewton Glen, Barnsley House and the Dorchester Spa. Martin Hulbert’s work has been published worldwide, consistently earning the studio a spot on House & Garden’scoveted top 100 interior designers.
Book your stay at the Grove Hotel, here.
