Varsity Hotel & Spa, Cambridge

Varsity Hotel & Spa

With its professional staff, sleek interior and fast Wi-Fi, the Varsity Hotel strikes a perfect balance of old-world charisma and modern service.

Less than three months old, the Varsity Hotel was opened by two Cambridge graduates who sensed the city’s need for upscale, luxurious accommodation. Tucked carefully away on a side street and minutes from St John’s College, the Varsity Hotel is truly a hidden gem; the entrance is so unassuming you almost miss it.

However, the location is perfect for touring the city by foot (but offers limited parking for drivers).

With a tiny lobby and a dining room only accessible through the gym, the Varsity Hotel does not impress at first glance. However, the slightly inorganic floor plan can be explained by the historic building foundations, protected by Cambridge preservation codes.

Despite the tiny lobby, all traces of doubt are left on the first floor as guests climb the stairs to enter a world of quiet elegance and breathtaking views of the city.

What the Varsity Hotel lacks in an impressive entrance, it more than makes up for with gorgeous state rooms and exemplary service. Each of the 48 rooms is named after a college. The two penthouse rooms offer a stunning view of the River Cam and the city, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and a summer deck. The Master’s Penthouse Suites offer a fantastic open space with rich wood floors and quirky decorative ornaments, like over-stuffed British flag cushions and an over-sized 1950s model toy car.

Two floors down was my less pricey Graduates Room. Even after the glamour of the penthouse, my smaller room did not disappoint and still had an impressive view of the town.

With large windows, a fluffy white comforter, a fantastic bathtub and rain shower, and the softest towels I have ever touched, I could have spent the entire weekend wrapped in a Varsity Hotel bathrobe and people-watching from my bedroom. Most of the other suites also offer amazing views of King’s, Christ’s, Queen’s and other colleges surrounding the hotel.

The rooms themselves are well furnished with Samsung flatscreen TVs, espresso machines and well-stocked bath soaps. Everything about the Varsity Hotel reinforces the blend of old and new, from the traditional room keys with wooden toggles, to the option of upgrading your entertainments system with an iPad or Nintendo Wii.

Guests are also entitled to complimentary access to the Glassworks Spa next door. This sleek space has a steam room, a sauna, and a Jacuzzi room with one-way glass windows overlooking the River Cam. From Glassworks, a climb up the winding staircase leads you to the Hotel Bar, a multi-level dining space with a scrumptious, well-portioned menu.

The Hotel Bar atmosphere echoes that of Varsity’s soft blend of art deco and antique influences, with simple stained wood furnishings, a wrought iron staircase and finely painted gold swathes of wallpaper.

For breakfast, I was met by a simple buffet of eggs, sausages, fruits and cereals. Plate piled with food, I decided to climb the additional spiral iron staircase to the second tier of the restaurant to enjoy a view of the River Cam over my coffee and muesli.

There’s still more to come for future guests at the Varsity Hotel. Although still under construction, the very top floor of the hotel is an open, 360-degree viewing deck with wooden floors and Astroturf. This is one of the highest viewing points in Cambridge and it will be interesting to discover how hotel bosses utilise the space in the summer.

True to its promise, Varsity Hotel is “where boutique chic meets classic Cambridge”.

The Varsity Hotel & Spa
Thompson's Lane (Off Bridge Street)
Cambridge, B5 8AQ
Tel: (01223) 306 030.

Website: www.thevarsityhotel.co.uk
Prices for a double room including breakfast start from £155 per night.