The Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire is set to unveil the results of an extensive renovation project of its three restaurants, lobby and west wing rooms overseen by interiors studio, Martin Hulbert Design.
The redesign of the hotel’s restaurants – The Glasshouse, The Stables and The Lounges – represents a significant investment for The Grove over the past two years and has been completed during lockdown restrictions.
London-based designers Martin Hulbert and Jay Grierson of Martin Hulbert Design, who have worked with The Grove since the hotel’s launch in 2003, were charged with updating the property while retaining its signature warmth, character and modernity.
Whilst the new interiors reflect the evolution of the brand, many of the original furnishings remain, albeit with a reimagined look. This regenerative approach was taken not only to retain the hotel’s original character, but also to champion sustainability – a theme which is evident across the property.
The Glasshouse
The Grove’s signature restaurant, The Glasshouse, has been entirely refurbished with the ultimate vision of bringing the outside in. The glasshouse exterior, which overlooks the courtyard and grounds beyond, provides abundant natural light. This complements an interior colour palette of warm, ochre yellow and rich earthy tones to create a sense of eternal sunshine.
Plush velvets and rich leathers provide a welcoming setting in which guests can enjoy The Glasshouse’s gourmet dining experience, with seating arranged around the restaurant’s open kitchen and live cooking stations. Bespoke, kinetic sculptures are suspended from the ceiling to create a gentle energy, while light and airy voile drapes provide a sense of intimacy.
The theme continues at the neighbouring Glasshouse Bar, which features a brand-new mirrored bar area. The ambient 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
Also part of the total design overhaul are The Grove’s Lounges, a series of characterful drawing rooms at the heart of 18th Century Mansion. Here, Hulbert’s team was tasked with creating three unique but cohesive spaces in which guests can relax with a cocktail or enjoy views of the gardens over a traditional afternoon tea.
The first of the three rooms has been updated 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 adorns the walls.
The second of the three Lounges, known as the Newspaper Room, enjoys a neutral yet opulent colour palette, where gold combines with gentle creams, browns and blues to create a soothing environment. A 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.
