The Signet Collection unveils plans for second hotel

artists impression of country hotel
730 565 Pauline Brettell
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The Signet Collection unveils plans for second hotel

Hot on the heels of The Mitre Hampton Court, The Signet Collection has unveiled its plans to open its second hotel. The Retreat Elcot Park is slated to open in Spring 2022. Hotelier Hector Ross’ focus within this portfolio of hotels is to create ‘memorable experiences’ with informal yet imaginative design schemes…

artists impression of country hotel

Slated to open in Spring 2022, The Retreat Elcot Park, is to become the second hotel to be unveiled under The Signet Collection brand. Housed in a Grade II-listed, 18th-century building, located between Hungerford and Newbury in the North Wessex Downs, the luxury hotel will comprise of 55 individually styled guestrooms with magnificent grounds to match.

The property follows the recent opening of The Mitre Hampton Court, which, within 30 days of launching, won ‘Best Hotel in London’ by The Sunday Times and was included in Conde Nast Traveller’s highly coveted Hot List for ‘Best UK New Hotels’, amongst other top awards and accolades.

Dating back to 1772, The Retreat has a storied past including once being the childhood home of the great poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. With stunning views of the Wessex Downs.

As with its sister hotel, The Mitre Hampton Court, all things Culinary will have pride of place at The Retreat, which will open with two restaurants (an all-day dining Brasserie and a pan-Asian restaurant). Other elements include a whisky tasting room, honesty pantries on each floor and experiences for all age groups.

For private events there will also be several meeting rooms and multiple private dining spaces. At the helm of culinary operations is Ronnie Kimbugwe, whose background includes time with the Gordon Ramsay group at Claridge’s Hotel and a decade with the Bel and Dragon Country Inns.

Set within 16 acres, The Retreat will be a destination in its own right with a walled working garden, tennis courts, an outdoor infinity pool (complete with designer cabanas and Whispering Angel pool bar), croquet lawns and children’s zone. The boutique hotel will also boast an impressive health club, inclusive of hydrotherapy pools, treatment rooms, steam and sauna, large gym, spin studio and a wellness area. Topping off the experiences will be ‘The Courtyard,’ a mixed-use retail space consisting of a bakery, coffee house, hair salon and a wine store.

“With a focus on creating memorable experiences, informality of design, exquisite food and service, we believe The Retreat will be a much-loved addition to the area.” – Hector Ross, Managing Partner, The Signet Collection.

Continuing The Signet Collection’s celebrated design aesthetic, the transformation of The Retreat will combine quirky British sensibility, blending the old with the new. Refined and comfortable, luxury is central to the design vision with nods to both the history and location of the property. As with The Mitre at Hampton Court, The Retreat will be home to characterful guestrooms, and playful, lively public spaces.

Hector Ross and Ronnie Kimbugwe

Image credit: The Signet Collection

“We are delighted to announce the second hotel from The Signet Collection coming next Spring,” says Hector Ross, Managing Partner who was named earlier this year as a shortlisted finalist in The Brit List Awards 2021. “As with The Mitre Hampton Court, we look forward to unveiling a property which will be enjoyed in the context of its historical significance, both preserving and restoring authenticity coupled with offering a vast array of activities on site to keep our guests entertained. With a focus on creating memorable experiences, informality of design, exquisite food and service, we believe The Retreat will be a much-loved addition to the area, involving both the local community and travellers from afar.”

The Signet Collection launched in September 2020 alongside the debut hotel in the portfolio, The Mitre Hampton Court. Founded by the former COO of Longshot, owners of Beaverbrook and Bel & the Dragon Group, the vision of the home-grown and hands-on brand is to be made up of several destination-defining properties throughout the UK. With a string of awards already under their belt, Ross and his team have taken the British hospitality world by storm whilst staying true to their objective of creating meaningful stays in time honoured places.

Main image credit: The Signet collection

Pauline Brettell / 02.11.2021

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