24 Hours at The Fellows House, Cambridge. 

Having actually not spent many nights together away from our home comforts since meeting (lockdown loves), my partner and I decided it was about high time we nipped off for an impromptu evening away together. Unlike many brits this year, I have not indulged in any staycations because I was not actually organised enough to get a booking anywhere. I had always wanted to visit Cambridge, having only ever heard brilliant stories and being such a fan of great architecture, idyllic streets and ‘instgrammable’ coffee shops.

We opted to stay a stone’s throw away from the central town, meaning it was much easier to park after our long drive. We booked into The Fellows House, a brand-new hotel that is part of the ‘Curio Collection’ by Hilton Hotels.

Arriving on a chilly Thursday night after a long day at the desk, we were embarrassingly keen to sit down and enjoy a drink somewhere cosy. Luckily for us, ‘The Folio Bar’  is complete with log fires, sumptuous leather armchairs, a pool table and an extensive bar menu- just what the doctor ordered.

After our cocktails at the bar, we headed straight up to our room, an “Attenborough Apartment” room. You can imagine my delight when I saw a fully fitted out kitchen complete with a cooking book from Skye McAlpine, one of my favourites. Adjacent to the kitchen you have the living space; sofa, coffee table and flat-screen television. The bedroom has another gigantic flat-screen television, built-in wardrobes and a gloriously comfortable super king-size bed. Just off the bedroom, you have a stunning en-suite bathroom complete with fluffy white towels, White Company products and a walk-in shower that’s big enough for two (if that’s your jam!).

We head back down for dinner, noting at every twist and turn of the hotel that there is an honourable nod to ‘The Fellows’ of Cambridge throughout the room names, artwork, design and small touches. It really felt like we were in a boutique independent hotel as opposed to a large chain like Hilton. Attentive waiters looked after my incredibly frustrating gluten intolerance throughout our whole meal, putting me at ease at every opportunity. We both indulged in the scallop and celeriac starter- perfectly executed and using seasonal ingredients- big thumbs up. My partner devoured a rare steak with all the trimmings whilst I enjoyed the Guinea Fowl and polenta dish- a really beautifully balanced and tasty main. We both opted for a simple ice cream and sorbet dish to finish our meal but these were equally as good as the previous two courses.

The restaurant interiors are bright and fresh, in contrast to the adjacent warm and cosy bar. You would be equally as home here for a romantic date night as you would be for. Lunch date with your girlfriends. Walls and columns are clad in whitewashed brick and the accent colour is ‘Cambridge Blue’, with punches of ochre orange in the leather upholstery. A Calacatta marble sharing table together with marble-topped dining tables are elegant and sophisticated. They also provide a counterpoint to the traditional millwork of the roof lantern recess and the timber banquets as well as the geometric black and white tiling to the floor, all of which are a nod to historic Cambridge. Above the fireplace, a portrait of Sir Michael Foster looks down over proceedings much as “he might have once surveyed Trinity College’s dining hall in his days as a fellow there”. The hotel describes.

Post indulging, we headed over to the bar once again to enjoy a game or two of pool, accompanied by a handful of brilliant cocktails. Our brilliant sever, was perfectly attentive without being too much- allowing us to enjoy our date night! The cocktail menu has all the classics in addition to their themed cocktails, once again encapsulating the theme of the hotel through their names and ingredients. Adjacent to the bar, a free-standing wall hosts a “DNA Panel” – a celebration of the modelling by fellows of DNA’s double helix, apparently over a pint in the nearby Eagle pub, embedded with the hotel owner’s own DNA profile. A brick wall reveals college crests in faded ghost signage where the plaster has “fallen away”.

The next morning, feeling surprisingly revitalised (given the previous night’s mix of tipples) we headed down for breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I adore a hotel breakfast. We both opted for a plate of cooked breakfast classics; bacon, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans and scrambled eggs, which I will go as far as saying have been the best I have had this year. So silky! I also opted to go for a bowl of thick, creamy Greek yoghurt topped with berries and GF granola whilst my partner enjoyed a pastry, such a treat!

Our stay at The Fellows House, unfortunately, had to end here as work beckoned, but if we had a little more time I would have gone for a much needed relaxing swim in the gorgeous on-site facilities. I took a quick look around the pool and gym area and as expected, it was all top-spec and looked brilliant. I particularly liked the fact that the gym facilities will not open up to members of the public, meaning the pool and gym area will never be too crowded during your stay.

Rooms at The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton, start from £170 per night for 2 people staying in a Kipling King room on a B&B basis. The property is located at 33 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1UZ.