Staying in a smart hotel for a smart city
RICHARD PARTINGTON finds the Tamburlaine a stylish, quirky base to explore this historic area
I REMEMBER stepping out of Cambridge railway station a few years ago on my first trip to the city, expecting to be greeted by pretty college buildings and church spires piercing the skyline.
Instead, it was grey and it was grim, pretty much the kind of nondescript landscape you might expect to find in less inspiring cities. I’m thinking Peterborough. Or Stevenage, maybe.
For a city renowned for its contribution to culture, history and politics in this country, first impressions of Cambridge were decidedly disappointing. These days it’s a different matter.
There’s no university houses of yellow stone, nor any steeples on the immediate horizon – but it’s a modern concourse befitting the city’s lofty reputation. Now the view is peppered with busy eateries, their tables spilling out from restaurants onto the pedestrianised walkways, and it’s no longer framed by forgettable office blocks but a glossy, glass-fronted development, still some way off completion, but which speaks of regeneration and healthy investment. At its centre, a short stroll from the station, stands the virtually brand new hotel, Tamburlaine, where I enjoyed a night’s stay recently.
The hotel’s name references the 16th century play about an ancient central Asian ruler – written by Christopher Marlowe, a former student at Corpus Christi College in the city – and there are Middle Eastern-inspired designs throughout the place, from the geometrically patterned carpets to the hexagonal tiling in the grand reception area.
It’s a 20-minute walk from here to the main attractions – think King’s College, punting on the River Cam – but the hotel interior reflects just what visitors to the city might be expecting.
So there are wooden shelves stacked with old leather-bound books, a library lounge area and an atrium decorated with abstract art.
It’s quirky, but having spent something in the region of £50m on the place, the O’Callaghan Hotel group presumably wanted a little bit more for their outlay, so the building also ticks boxes in terms of design.
Quirkiness with a great deal of style, if you will.
The attention to detail extends to the bedrooms.
‘Fresher’ rooms are decorated in Cambridge Blue with leather chairs and floor-to-ceiling windows while ‘Scholar’ rooms, found on the upper levels, have glass-fronted balconies.
At the top, the threebedroom ‘Dean’ penthouse suites all have large balcony areas and views of the city which will only improve once the developing buildings in close vicinity have been completed. All the rooms have bright marble bathrooms and writing desks, enormous king-sized extra beds and free high-speed wifi.
I’ve mentioned the fact that the hotel is a 20-minute walk into the city centre, but you can take a picturesque route along the Cam and it’s by no means stuck out on a limb. Close by you have Cambridge University Botanical Gardens and the Fitzwilliam Museum.
There’s no shortage of eateries in the centre of town, nor along the route into the city – but the hotel itself is establishing a growing reputation for its food and drink, evidenced by the mix of people enjoying the Friday evening fare when I dined there.
With a well stocked and staffed horse-shoe shaped cocktail bar, the Brasserie – one of three distinct dining areas – has a clear, uncluttered menu.
That said, I went for one of the evening specials to start with, a beetroot and apple soup (served hot, though I reckon it would have worked equally well dished up cool on a hot summer evening), followed by pork cheek cooked to perfection served with leeks and crushed swede.
There’s also a Colonialstyle garden room for afternoon teas and a deli, Steam, which is becoming increasingly popular with commuters.
I imagine the place will be a big hit with families visiting offspring who are studying at the university.
But Tamburlaine is equally as good for those looking for a smart city break in a smart hotel.