A warm welcome at the Olde Bell

Jun 18 2010 By Emily Bridgewater

Emily Bridgewater is delighted to discover Britain’s oldest inn is weaving some modern culinary magic.

Having endured many a night in tasteless British hotels, it’s easy to forget what a stylish nation we can be.

When you’re in a room filled with mock antiques, or have the joys of a chintzy bedspread atop a bed bumpier than Sugar Loaf mountain, it’s hard to believe we could possibly spawn such style icons as Mick Jagger, Kate Moss, Paul Smith.

However, I enjoyed a welcome reminder of Cool Britannia when I checked in for a night at The Olde Bell in Hurley.

Tucked away in an affluent Berkshire village, The Olde Bell is Britain’s oldest inn with parts dating back to the 12th century.

Lovingly restored, it seamlessly marries the old with the new; the cosy with the contemporary, in a way only us Brits know how.

From the exterior, this timber-framed inn looks like many others and, as you step inside and are greeted with a snug little bar and roaring log fire, you could be mistaken for thinking that this was merely a traditional pub-come-hotel.

But as we entered our bedroom it was clear this inn is more than a little bit special.

London-based design guru Ilse Crawford has worked her magic on the rooms, which range in size from compact and bijou, to spacious suite – with no compromise on style.

Our suite featured dark wooden floorboards, perfectly contrasting with the crispest white bedsheets and free-standing bathtub. With it’s Jakob’s wool blankets, rocking chair, Roberts’ radio and vintage desk, it’s minimalist yet homely.

There were also delightful touches such as a stock of Montezuma chocolate bars, Burt’s crisps and old-fashioned ginger ale.

You could happily spend a lifetime holed up in one of these rooms, which also has a separate shower room with Aesop toiletries.