News Ticker

Independent London hotel opens a ‘country cousin’ in the Lakes

The team behind Georgian House Hotel in Pimlico, London is opening a ‘country cousin’ in the Lake District. The hotel, to be called Victorian House Hotel, will open in the previous Oak Bank Hotel premises in February 2020. The hotel will be run by Operations Manager, Dan Gatehouse with hotel owner, Serena von der Heyde overseeing the project.

Victorian House Hotel will have 19 individually designed bedrooms, a Shepherd’s Hut and several open-plan shared guest spaces designed by Laura Fulmine, as well as a tranquil riverside garden and a range of outdoor facilities. The new venture will see a classic Victorian building injected with modern and romantic design elements and eclectic details to complement the building’s original features.

The 19 spacious bedrooms will be made up of a range of ensuite twin and double rooms, as well as two suites and one two-bedroom suite. There will be four special Stargazer rooms which will have dual aspect hip-to-ceiling windows and telescopes. Every room will have its own individual design and each will be overflowing with character and charm.  A luxury Shepherd’s Hut at the end of the garden will sit by the river and offer an alternative accommodation option for guests.

The shared guest spaces on the ground floor of Victorian House Hotel will be open-plan and welcoming with cosy nooks and snug sofas alongside classic Victorian character features. The high ceilings and original fireplaces in the lounge will be complemented with traditional, rich Georgian colours of warm, dark greens and dusky terracottas.  A conservatory at the back of the house will look out onto the garden with an eclectic mix of furniture and extra seating space for guests.

A relaxed dining area will have a long, farmhouse-style table with mismatched seating and a reclaimed wood breakfast bar. The food offering at the hotel will focus on provenance and sustainability with the aim of sourcing as much local produce as possible. An all-day menu of Cumbrian tapas, cheese boards and light sharing dishes will also be available at the hotel with matching wine flights. The bar will be small and select, showcasing some of the best local and regional spirits – perfect for guests to return to after dinner at the pub. The sharing style menu will be open to hotel guests initially with the view to welcoming the general public in the future.

Victorian House Hotel will be perfectly set up to welcome lovers of the outdoors. Features such as a Boot Room, bike washing and storing facilities, and a warm dog shower will be available to all staying guests.

Commenting on the opening of Victorian House Hotel, owner Serena von der Heyde said, “This is such an exciting development for the Georgian House Hotel family. I’ve always loved the Lake District  and when I saw the property I knew we’d be able to create something really special. Although it will be very different to Georgian House Hotel, with elements such as the outdoor facilities and the Shepherd’s Hut, our core values of great service and being a wonderful place to work will remain the same. Bringing Georgian House Hotel’s hospitality to the Lake District is something we are really looking forward to and hope that both locals and visitors to the area will enjoy what we have to offer when we open our doors in February.” 

Victorian House Hotel’s London counterpart, Georgian House Hotel has been named one of The Caterer’s Best Places to Work in Hospitality for the last five years, priding itself on its industry standards, education of employees and its offering of apprenticeships. These standards will be carried over to Victorian House Hotel to offer exciting employment opportunities for people in the area.

Victorian House Hotel will open in February with B&B rates starting from £150 per night.