Peek inside Eagle & Hodges’ very British makeover of the Oakley Court hotel in Windsor
By: Rosella Degori
Peek inside Eagle & Hodges’ very British makeover of the Oakley Court hotel in Windsor
It was just a matter of time until creative director Alex Eagle turned her attention to the world of hospitality, doing to the hotel what she's already done to retail and luxury fashion. In Berkshire, Eagle has teamed up with long-time friend and collaborator Sophie Hodges to reimagine Windsor's Oakley Court hotel as if it were her own home.
'We designed the hotel like a private home. I am my best and worst guest. I am always designing with myself in mind and try to cast a critical eye over everything.', said Alex.
Victorian wood panelling is enlivened by timeless colours and hung with fine art curated by Eagle, including line works by artist Tanya Ling. Arts & Crafts light sconces from the hotel's construction in 1859 hang above iconic 20th-century design pieces like Pierre Jeanneret's Chandigarh chairs, with cosy Eastern rugs underfoot.
Pieces from Eagle & Hodges debut furniture collection also feature throughout the hotel, across the lounge, library and bedrooms, while some of the hotel's historical collection is updated with fabrics by the duo.
The blurring of domestic and public continues in the dining room of Oakley Court's restaurants, The Parlour and The Green Room, where the decor and the menu have also undergone a revamp. Seasonal dishes are made with locally sourced organic ingredients, many of which grow directly in the hotel's kitchen garden – a bountiful corner of Oakley Court's 35-acres of landscaped gardens. (The grounds will also host a full-scale, inflatable replica of Stonehenge by artist Jeremy Deller this summer.)
Oakley Court's swimming pool and gym facilities have also been brought into the 21st century, and the hotel will eventually host an outpost of the Alex Eagle Sporting Club (currently in development). The wellness hub and clothing capsule range share the 'Made in Britain' ethos of Eagle & Hodges' furniture and fabric collection, with classic British pastimes such as fencing, rowing, boxing and tennis. Pilates and yoga are also on offer, as well as high-tech infrared saunas and cryotherapy sessions.
Each room at the hotel has a thumbprint that works with the gothic architecture's lofty proportions and dramatic windows. Mansion rooms start from £250 per night.
Windsor Rd, Water Oakley, Windsor SL4 5UR, United Kingdom
Words & photography: Rosella Degori