6 minute read
Brownber House
from Sleeper - Issue 92
Brownber House CUMBRIA
The hoteliers behind Brownber Hall launch a new private hireplus offer overlooking the Howgill Fells.
Words: Catherine Martin Photography: © Jake Eastham
If there’s one type of accommodation that the UK does better than anyone, it’s the classic country house hotel. Set amongst rolling hills at the end of a winding lane, the archetypal country pile with roaring log fire is a frequent sight in rural locations across the British Isles, with many once occupied by aristocracy and handed down through generations before eventually being converted to hotel use. And while the traditional look of heavy drapery, deep colourways and heady combination of check and chintz may have served well in days gone by, a new breed of hoteliers are favouring a softer, lighter, more elegant aesthetic that has effectively reinvented the country house hotel in recent years.
But when the global pandemic hit, the subsector suffered more than most; what was originally a USP – cosy, intimate spaces that felt more like a living room than a lobby – became a drawback, with prolonged social distancing measures forcing some to close their doors permanently. For Peter and Amanda JaquesWalker however, closure wasn’t an option. In 2016, the duo left the stresses of London life behind and moved 300 miles north to realise their dream of running a guesthouse. They spent four years renovating and repositioning Brownber Hall – a Victorian mansion built in the 1800s – and were in the midst of an expansion project when Covid-19 took hold. “We used lockdown as a time to rethink our offer,” explains Amanda. “Brownber Hall was a small, very intimate hotel, so with the current climate and people not being comfortable in public spaces, we were a nervous about being able to reopen.”
As it became clear they could no longer operate in the same way, Peter and Amanda made the difficult decision to pivot to private rental, and at the same time launch a second property in Brownber House, which they acquired earlier this year. The four-bedroom farmhouse occupies the same estate as Brownber Hall, overlooking the Howgill Fells and close to the market town of Kirkby Stephen. It was already
The master bathroom features a freestanding bathtub by Claybrook, complemented by classic Burlington tapware
being run as self-catering accommodation, but Peter and Amanda wanted to put their own stamp on it, and so embarked on a full refurb. “We wanted to instil the Brownber vibe,” says Peter, adding that there’s now a harmony between the House and Hall. The look can be best described as rustic luxury, as defined by the honest materials, nature-inspired colour palette and authentic charm. “The luxury we offer here is that you feel at home, relaxed and comfortable,” he continues. “There’s a quality to the finishes and materials yet they’re simple and understated.”
The interiors are the vision of Amanda’s sister, Georgina Rose, who previously worked with Soho House, Make Architects and SCDA before setting up her own studio. Georgina assisted on the design of Brownber Hall remotely from Singapore, then moved back to the UK earlier this year to take the lead on Brownber House. “We wanted the two properties to feel related, but at the same time be unique,” she explains. “We knew from the outset that the House would be self-catering and so built on what we created at the Hall based on the ways in which guests used the various spaces.”
A desire to cosy up in front of the fire resulted in two wood-burning stoves in the property, while demand for a chair-with-a-view led to the addition of window seats in every room; charming spots from which to take in the countryside. The team also opted to remove the doors between kitchen and dining room, making for an open-plan layout that’s ideal for groups.
“We aimed to create spaces that feel very homely and approachable, with good quality finishes that are understated; they don’t feel too pretentious or precious,” continues Georgina. It’s the type of place you can kick off your shoes and put your feet up without fear of ruining a cushion.
Inspiration came in part from Georgina’s time at Soho House, with the designer opting for a layered aesthetic that brings together an eclectic mix of furniture, fabrics and finishes. “We’ve sourced mainly from British suppliers and worked with locals, including a local blacksmith artist, so there’s context to the palette,” she explains. The blacksmith in question is in fact a local farmer who honed his skills fixing tractors; at Brownber he handcrafted the sturdy iron bed frames.
There’s an upcycling element to the project too. Take one of the sofas for example, which Peter and Amanda spruced up having found it close by to where they were living in Hackney. Or the armchair that once belonged to Amanda and Georgina’s grandmother, which has been lovingly reupholstered at a small workshop in Keswick. Then there’s the cabinet of curiosities in the living room, a multi-drawer unit their parents had for decades, which now houses all manner of books, games, DVDs and maps of the local area.
Some pieces of furniture were found at auction; others have been borrowed from Brownber Hall, or inherited with the property and given a new lease of life. Almost every piece has a story to tell. What started out as necessity – having to work with what they had to a tight budget – has resulted in a certain charm that perhaps wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.
Even the elements that are all-new have character. The kitchen, from British Standard by Plain English, is crafted from solid wood using traditional methods, and painted on site in a warming shade of sage green. Then there’s the master bathroom, where a freestanding bathtub crafted from reconstituted stone by Claybrook
makes a statement atop marble mosaic tiles in blush pink. Classic Burlington tapware completes the look.
With demand for staycations at an all-time high, Brownber House has experienced a busy opening month. Though Peter and Amanda were initially apprehensive about pivoting to self-catering and missing out on the all-important guest interaction, they’ve come up with a solution that not only plays to the duo’s strengths, but brings further revenue. Offering what they call private-hire-plus, additional F&B services include breakfast hampers, picnic baskets and home-cooked meals, all made using local seasonal produce. Having trained at Leiths, Amanda does the majority of the cooking, while Peter has perfected his sourdough, which comes freshly baked at breakfast along with homemade preserve, eggs from the farm and bacon from the local butcher. The meals – think Longhorn Beef Bourguignon or Portobello Mushroom Wellington – can be prepared and left ready for guests to cook themselves, or via a full private catering service, which has already proved popular with larger groups. Changing their business model was a risk, but it would seem it’s paying off. EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owners: Peter and Amanda Jaques-Walker Interior Design: Georgina Rose Studio www.brownber.co.uk
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