Last Sunday I found myself in cold, autumnal Cambridge. It's not a city I am overly familiar with and so after some drinks a few weeks ago myself and two friends decided to do a last minute stay in the university town. And aren't I glad I took them up on the offer!
We stayed at The University Arms Hotel, a hotel that I actually know very well because my now old company designed its interiors. But, it was so nice to visit and not in a work capacity. With Covid still the hot topic, the experience was a little different (mask wearing was compulsory and there were neither cushions nor anything tactile in the rooms because of contamination nerves..) however, it was still a gorgeous little stay. We arrived in time for baked goods and hot cups of tea at Fitzbillies before picking up bikes and scooting through the streets to Kettle's Yard.
Kettle's Yard is my idea of absolute heaven. It was the home of Jim and Helen Ede, art enthusiasts and firm believers that art should be accessible to all. During the 1950s and 60s the Ede's opened up their home to art scholars at Cambridge, allowing them to drop into their home for tea and drinks and enjoy their vast Modern British art collection. Students could even borrow a piece of artwork to keep in their dorms - I can't help but feel this was a risky move but perhaps that is just a reflection on my university days...
Anyway, the house is brimming with Ben Nicholson's, Winifred Nicholson's (they were married), Henri Guadier-Brzeska's, Brancusi's, David Jones'... the list is endless and I just couldn't contain myself. The way the home is curated is a style I like to think I have been honing for years. As a child I loved creating little vignettes in my room - some shells on a table, a painting resting on my bookcase etc. At Kettle's Yard, pebbles lie casually next to sculptures, a vase of dahlia's next to a maquette or simply a painting leaning against a window pane. It was such an inspiring home to walk around; if I could have moved in that day I would have!
Finally tearing ourselves away from the home (the girls loved it too but I think I was being especially gushy) we hopped on our bikes once more and headed back to the hotel to catch up on the weekend papers, enjoy baths and get ready for dinner. After months of lockdown and not really going out for dinner, it felt so lovely to get dressed up, enjoy a glass of bubbly and enjoy a proper meal out. We started with fresh bread with plenty of salty butter before enjoying seared lamb with autumn ratatouille and buttery mashed potatoes, panfried sole with leafy greens and the ultimate spag bol. Pudding was a haze of strawberries and cream, ices and a cheese board (Ellen was still grazing on it come the 10pm curfew and very nearly took up the waiter's kind offer of having it boxed up so she could carry on enjoying it in her room!).
Monday morning came by in the blink of an eye. After a hearty breakfast we took a quick spin into town to visit a second hand book shop before enjoying one last baked treat at Fitzbillies and heading back to the smoke on the train.
After a stressful few months, it was such a treat to enjoy a staycation with girlfriends and really kickback and relax. I spied so many places I wanted to go back to (the wine merchant looked amazing!) so I think I'll have to book myself and Ian in to University Arms once more in the spring.
L.
