The Varsity in Cambridge unveils £1m refurbishment

Independent boutique hotel and spa, The Varsity in Cambridge, has undergone a £1m refurbishment of both of its restaurants, its roof terrace and spa, and has begun work on renovating all 48 bedrooms and suites. Working with interiors brand Colefax and Fowler, The Varsity internal design team has redesigned both SIX Brasserie and the River Bar Steakhouse and Grill, as well as the roof terrace and the spa’s shower facilities. Featuring a “striking” red, blue and mustard colour scheme, SIX Brasserie’s new look “combines style and sophistication with a fun and modern twist”. The refurbishment includes all new tables, chairs and booth seating, made from aged oak wood, with light blue Alma Italian leather cushioning, and fabric emblematic chevron patterned backs, alongside mustard yellow leather dining chairs and booths. New geometric and ornate style rugs have been positioned throughout the space, and as well as fully upgraded interiors, SIX Brasserie now also features a new wood-fired oven, that will in turn enhance the restaurant’s menu offering. The Varsity’s second on-site dining destination, The River Bar Steakhouse and Grill, has undergone a transformation of its bar area as part of the ongoing refurb. The Quayside-located restaurant has been fitted with a brand-new central bar with underlighting and “eye-catching” lit display cabinets hanging over the bar top. The main restaurant, which is set across two floors, features new neon signage, and complementary burnt orange, red and blue leather booths and chair style seating. As well as both restaurants, The Varsity has re-decked its roof terrace in time for summer. Aside from food and beverage, The Varsity has also begun upgrading several other aspects of the hotel, including the changing room facilities in the Glassworks Spa, which have been fully stripped out and replaced with new, modern showers. The hotel is also set to refurbish its 48 bedrooms, including making the Penthouse Suite double in size. All bedroom makeovers are set to be complete by June 2023, with the team taking a floor at a time to avoid any disruption for guests and continue trading as normal.