The Montpellier Chapter Hotel - Cheltenham

The Montpellier Chapter, Bayshill Road, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 3AS
+44 (0)1242 527788
www.themontpellierchapterhotel.com
Review by Amy Castle

Some feel at home in the most modern of residences, with white walls and minimal furniture, but  I myself prefer a little bit of tradition when it comes to interior – and indeed exterior – design.

Opened in November 2010, the Montpellier has the perfect balance of both old and new, with the original grade II listed white, majestic building giving way to an ultra-modern crescent-shaped wing and an inner courtyard surrounded by clear and claret-coloured glass panels.

The Victorian splendour of the original building has been maintained to a high standard, its high ceilings are beautiful and grand, whilst modern flashes of artwork created by students at Central St Martin’s College of Art and Design line the walls with bright injections of colour. The grey walls and white borders maintain English style, and the hotel is airy and inviting.

The Feature Room I stayed in was elegantly modern. The room was cleverly two-tone: a stone surround framing around the sides and bottom of the 6-foot wide double bed floor met with solid wooden floors, which melted into the background of ceiling-high wooden wardrobes and a chunky wooden desk. A walk-in shower framed by seamless glass and a huge bath lined the right-hand side of the room, with an elegant cream curtain offering separation from the other half of the room. The finish was flawless, and everything was clean, fresh and relaxing.

For lunch, I joined Consultant Chef Simon Hopkinson and Head Chef Tom Rains in the 74-cover restaurant. Complete with an open kitchen and stone hearth oven, the restaurant has a relaxed and informal vibe, and it was great to see what was going on behind the scenes.

I started with Spiced Aubergine Salad with Minted Yoghurt. Delicately spiced and bursting with flavour, the sweetness of the aubergine was complimented by the cool yoghurt and refreshing mint. I chose Pork fillet wrapped in Trealy farm ham, with honey glazed belly and crackling for my next course. Like nothing I had tried before, the pork melted-in-the-mouth and was a pleasure to eat. Each bite was succulent and full of flavour, and the jus made from the juice from the cooked pork was syrupy and rich in taste and colour.

Each dish was presented beautifully and the service was second to none. It’s nice to visit a restaurant within a hotel where the restaurant isn’t confined by the hotel, yet stands alone in its quality and grandeur.

The Montpellier Chapter in Cheltenham is a beautifully-designed and well thought out design, executed to the highest of standards. Everything about my stay was flawless and the quality and detail – from the Egyptian cotton crisp white bedding to the elegant light fittings and artwork, was impressive.

Complete with courtyard, library, original conservatory and lounges, there are many different areas in which to unwind and relax, yet the whole hotel comes together and is architecturally brilliant. I would highly recommend the hotel and restaurant for all ages, and commend the style, grace and service.

Prices per night start from £140, for more information visit www.themontpellierchapterhotel.com