Experimental Group unveils its first UK hotel outside of London

Paris-based Experimental Group’s Cowley Manor Experimental hotel has officially opened its doors in the Cotswolds. Cowley Manor is a 300-year-old manor house, with the first iteration constructed in 1695. The land was once owned by Edward the Confessor and the property designed by the renowned R.A.Briggs. It is also widely recognised as the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. However, Experimental Group, together with design collaborators Dorothée Meilichzon and De Matos Ryan and chef consultant Jackson Boxer, has transformed the British country house hotel by combining classical inspiration with contemporary elements. Sat within 55 acres of Cotswolds countryside, Cowley Manor is now home to 36 bedrooms and suites, the C-Side Spa, a restaurant, Experimental Cocktail Club Cotswolds Bar, lounge, library and plentiful living rooms. Each room features a baldaquin bed complemented by blurred maple and Verdigris, touches of rattan, mixed with “bold” colours and glossy lacquer and lava stone. The hotel also includes nods to Lewis Carroll’s iconic Alice in Wonderland such as a small hidden door here, White Rabbit door knockers there, and a bespoke checkerboard carpet throughout. The bedrooms are divided into different categories: Petite Cowley - located in the main house; Wildflower - open plan suites with four poster beds in both the main house and stable block, some with outdoor terraces; WaterLily - a “romantic” suite overlooking the lake; Alpaca’s Room - for the whole family featuring a sofa that turns into a bunk bed; Family Tree - a stone’s throw from the main house and set across three levels; and four hero suites including Churn’s River Junior Suite, St Mary Suite, Swan Lake Suite and Cowley Manor Suite. Additionally, the new restaurant and cocktail bar at Cowley Manor offers lunch, dinner and afternoon tea. Chef Jackson Boxer leads the team as chef consultant with a menu that features local produce and pays homage to Experimental Group’s French heritage. As part of the hotel’s revival, the team have focused on evolving the kitchen garden, growing wider varieties of produce and increasing its size. The complementing cocktail and wine lists offer a mix of English and French wines, alongside classic cocktails and Experimental signatures. Lastly, the C-Side Spa has reopened following an interior refresh for hotel and day spa guests. The spa includes two heated pools, indoor and out. Behind the doors, treatment is offered by local vegan skincare brand Monu Skin - 100% natural, a combination of plants and essential oils. The spa is also home to a fitness centre, sauna and steam rooms and five private treatment rooms.