Obviously we adore London, but every so often it's nice to escape the city for a little exploration elsewhere. We recently did just that, revisiting an old favourite in Unviersity Arms Cambridge to experience their latest offering, the Reading Retreat.
The landmark hotel, in the historic heart of Cambridge, originally opened in 1834 and the literary and academic spirit of Cambridge is one of its defining characteristics, but for the first time its appointed an official Literary Ambassador, Alex Clark, aiming to champin the power of books and guide guests to stories that will enhance their stay, as part of its new literary programme, "Stay for the Story".
From a childhood immersed in literature to a career in journalism, broadcasting and hosting live events with writers as an advisor for the Cambridge Literary Festival, Alex couldn't be better qualified for the role and is now sharing his love of reading with hotel guests. For the new "Stay for the Story" retreat, Alex has curated a series of books that draws on Cambridge's rich literary history, featuring writers with a connection to the city and those who have been inspired by both urban and rural landscapes, available in the hotel library.
The new literary programme is designed to respond to increasing demand for slow travel and quiet, dedicated moments for reading, aiming to reinvigorate readers and non-readers to pick up a book on holiday and continue at home. What's more, 5% of the revenue from Stay for the Story: A Reading Retreat to be donated to The National Literacy Trust to support reading for pleasure.
Stay for the Story: A Reading Retreat us a two-night escape package that encourages guests to slow down, switch off, and immerse themselves in the simple luxury of reading. Guests will have a one-to-one consultation with the dedicated Book Butler, detailing the literary preferences, after which a bespoke recommended reading list will be curated for their stay. Beyond the Reading Retreat, Seasons to Read will offer a programme of literary experiences, with the Book Butler on hand to recommend titles, host literary conversations, and even hold onto guests’ phones for those seeking a true digital detox. A weekly Library Reading Hour invites guests to settle into the hotel’s cosy library for an hour of uninterrupted reading with refreshments, while a Literary Afternoon Tea launched in January, a seasonal series inspired by works of literature and curated in collaboration with Literary Ambassador, Alex Clark.
Being a lifelong bookworm, I couldn't turn down an invitation to try it for myself. I checked in to the Virginia Woolf suite, itself home to bookshevles filled with over 40 titles inspired by its namesake, with fiction from female authors like Daphne du Maurier and Joanne Harris to fascinating non-fiction on literary heroines; within minutes I had list of titles to buy after my stay, including Into the Mountain about the life of Scottish walker Nan Shepherd, A Secret Sisterhood by Emily Midorikawa and Emme Claire Sweeney, about the hidden friendships of Austen, Brontë, Eliot and Woolfe. A two night retreat is all well and good, but with the number of wonderful titles in the suite you'll want to lock yourself away for a week...
Nevertheless, that wasn't why I was there. The in-depth questioning of my literary loves resulted in a thorough analysis from the Book Butler and two titles being left in my room for my stay. The first was chosen from Alex Clark's specially curated selection for the University Arms library; The Gate of Angels by Penelope Fitzgerald. With the recommendation that it was 'elegantly written and quietly enchanting', the story is set in 1912 Cambridge as physicist, Fred Fairly meets spirited nursing student, Daisy Saunders, leading to an unlikely romance. Eve after a coupe of pages, I was hooked. The second title was gifted for me to keep and the Book Butler couldn't have picked a better book. In my consultations, I described my love of travel and food literature, citing Anthony Bourdain as a favourite, and eating my way around the world as a hobby. As such he selected Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Reichl, 'a sharp, funny love letter to restaurants, appetite and the stories we collect around a table'. Perfection.
Speaking of, no visit to University Arms is complete without dinner at its restaurant, Parker's Tavern; a Cambridge dining landmark in its own right, inspired by the communal dining halls synonymous with Cambridge Colleges. We dined on crispy cod cheek scampi and warming French onion soup, tuna tartare, a wonderful schnitzel and fish cake, finishing off with a basque cheesecake - delicious every time. A post-prandial drink in the bar and I retired to enjoy the glorious bathtub with a cup of tea and one of my books. Bliss.
