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Like many hotels the Compleat Angler has a history going back centuries and the buildings that form it reflect the different era’s and altered functions. Some bedrooms are in building converted from other uses, whilst some are in 20th Century extensions to the various main parts of the building. The buildings themselves follow the arc of the river, and are fronted by the river and an enormous weir – begging to be put to use for generating hydro power in these days of the greening of our society. The weir provides a constant bass rumble audible in many of the rooms, not a gentle susurration of breakers on a shingle or sand beach but a constant bass note, a plashing and slooshing that is in itself not unattractive. With the sound comes the view, a vista of a river that is busy with swans and wildfowl.
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The lounge of a suite placed to take advantage of the views of the weir. Click for a typical bathroom
All rooms are fitted witha good sized desk, here the suite.
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The differing building forms result in very varying sizes of room, but there is a constancy threading through the design treatments, a repetition of what I suppose one could call an ‘English vernacular’, with an emphasis on emotional and physical comfort. Not a homeliness, which suggests a twee domesticity, but rather a slightly formal laid back subtlety of pattern and colour that doesn’t impose on the guest. There is a tendency for design to shriek ‘look at me’ or to be so purist (minimalist) to leave the guest uncomfortable in the surroundings. Good design is discreet, enabling, and that is what happens here. Nothing spectacular, but a quiet comfort that in some areas such as Aubergine borders on being sumptuous. Certainly when there are fires lit in the grates then combined with excellent service the circle is complete, achieving that blend of comforts, quality and good design, timeless design, that is quintessentially English.
"Good design is discreet, enabling, and that is what happens here."
Bedrooms have a slightly old-fashioned feel but this is not inappropriate to the buildings. I noted that the furniture was made by a manufacturer out of business for at least 15 years, but solidly built and traditional, most pieces still looking good, only needing French polishing or maybe a touch of restaining to be good for another fifteen years. Contract quality indeed, and with the regular ‘soft’ refurbishing (reupholstering, replacement of fabrics etc.) keeping the quality in line with expectation for this level of hotel.
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