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Hospitality brand Mercure has revealed that Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel will open its doors on 15 June 2021.
The hotel – formerly the birthplace of explorer, treasure hunter and polar medallist Francis Howard Bickerton – occupies three buildings, including two 19th Century manor houses, and is set among three acres of private gardens situated on the edge of the city of Oxford.
The hotel has undergone an “extensive redesign” inspired by its location. The new décor of the historic hotel will emulate Oxford vintage style, with interiors inspired by the classic Oxford brogue and Oxford shirt, with classic textures, fabrics and design touches.
The property offers 15 bedrooms and private gardens and is available for exclusive hire. The hotel’s restaurant and bar ‘Frank’s at Hawkwell House’ has been named in honour of the famous explorer and serves up an “array of classic tipples” including the hotel’s signature cocktail “Shackleton’s Revenge” – a nod to Bickerton’s participation in Sir Ernest Shackleton’s “Endurance” expedition, as well as the restaurant’s signature dish, the ‘Baked Alaska’, as part of a locally inspired menu.
The interior décor of the hotel has been inspired by the classic Oxford attire, a style which was born in the college rooms of Oxford and is now synonymous with the university city – buttoned down collared shirts, leather brogues and the wide-legged ‘bag’ trousers of the 1920s.
The hotel said: “Mercure Oxford Hawkwell House Hotel is in a quiet location in the surrounds of Oxford amongst gardens and parkland, with the centre of Oxford just a 10-minute drive or 15-minute cycle away. Guests can also stroll along the Iffley River right into the heart of the city to go punting or explore the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, Botanic Gardens and other local attractions in the historic city.
“The hotel is also a great base from which to explore outer city highlights such as The Oxford Gin Distillery, Blenheim Palace, Bicester Village and the Cotswolds.”
