OUNDLE MILL

Coolly rustic mill house beside the River Nene.

SET ON THE GRASSY BANKS of the River Nene, Oundle Mill blends centuries of history with the coolest in rustic chic. This decidedly modernist mill house is anything but your traditional rural retreat.

Step inside the waterside boutique hotel, and a stunning glass floor – artfully lit up at night – reveals water rushing past below. Soaring wooden beams and relics of the ancient mill machinery are visual reminders of the building’s industrial past.

Bedrooms at Oundle Mill – currently just two – are  very much 21st century comfort zones. Sleek surfaces, chic neutral shades and clutter-free walls make a striking counterpoint to the building’s historic fabric. Italian furniture, Bose sound systems, rain showers, goose down duvets and lighting to suit every mood underline the luxe factor.

Floating on air

Literally jutting out from the side of the building (make sure you have a head for heights!) is the snug Lucom room, whose bed literally seems to float on air above a  scarlet carpet. With the original mill pulleys hanging from the ceiling and side-to-side views over the countryside, it’s a real original.

The sprawling Mill room has huge oak beams, a vast bed and free standing bathtub for two. We returned from dinner to find the bed linen sprayed with lavender and mood music playing in the background. That double-ended Castello stone bathtub is definitely the high point… just light the fire, turn up the music, dim the lights and you have chillout heaven.

Oundle Mill’s modern fit is appropriately neutral, and the rooms have been finished with huge attention to detail with generous Jo Malone toiletries and Missoni towelling robes. While we were less keen on the partially shielded bathroom/loo arrangement, we loved the freshly squeezed orange juice, a cafetiere to brew up fresh coffee and home-baked biscuits.

Diners get plenty of choice at Oundle Mill. There’s an informal gastro bar on the first floor with stylish black furniture and comfy sofas overlooking the lock and river. It’s popular with locals, with plenty of buzz and music.

More intimate and elegant is the gourmet style second floor restaurant, where low beams, exposed stone walls and candles lit along the window sills lend plenty of character. A glass partition allows guests to watch head chef Jeremy Medley and his kitchen brigade at work while you dine. 

Friendly and enthusiastic local staff (who will even bring cosseting hot water bottles should you want them) are knowledgeable about the area and keen to ensure you are well looked after.

Outside, all is serenity. Watch canal boats glide past from the terrace, or stroll along the river bank – as we did – watching the sun set over lakes and meadows.  Plans are afoot to add several additional rooms at Oundle Mill on stilts, with terraces overlooking the pond. Definitely a good excuse to make a return trip.


Oundle Mill was reviewed for Room for Romance by Kerstin Glasow

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Head chef Jeremy Medley (who has Michelin star experience under his belt) creates contemporary and original dishes using ingredients mainly sourced locally. Start with seared scallops served with saffron risotto and sweet cure bacon, followed perhaps by roasted cannon of local lamb with artichokes and beans. 

There are plenty of veggie options, and delicious eats in the downstairs gastro bar include linguini carbonara, grilled calves liver and fricassee of wild mushrooms with tofu and lentils. Distinctly adventurous dessert combos include raspberry cheesecake with rose jelly, and lemon and lime sorbet with caramelised peanuts.

Dining out
There are plenty of village pubs around serving great food. Go on a mission to find The Old Bakehouse for great Mediterranean food, or The George for a traditional English roast.

See & Do
River walks start from right outside the door, and Barnwell Country Park is literally on the doorstep. The market town of Oundle and picturesque villages like Fotheringhay are well worth exploring, and there are some great spots for country picnics.

Nearby Rockingham Forest is rich in wildlife, and Burghley (venue for the famous horse trials) has its historic house and sculpture garden. Climb aboard the Nene Valley railway for a trip or explore historic Stamford, backdrop to many a historic drama.

Shop
Nearby Oundle town has plenty of interesting little boutiques and coffee shops, as does historic Stamford.

After dark
Grab a seat by the water and watch the reflections from the sunset, whilst sipping on something cool.

Dates
February
See some of the world's top riders in action at the Burghley Horse Trials in Stamford.

July
Ten days of jazz, clasical music and theatre kicks off at the Oundle International Festival.

GETTING THERE

Location
Barnwell Road, Oundle PE8 5PB
 
Parking
There is free guest parking.

Trains
Peterborough station – 14 miles.

Taxis
GBP 25 from the station.

Airport
London Stansted – 65 miles.

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
From GBP 170

Open/closed
Closed Christmas Day.

Check-in
14.00

Check-out
Midday

Minimum night stay?
Two nights at weekends.

Breakfast
Breakfast is served whenever you like. Try the Oundle Mill Duck breakfast or tuck into Denham rare breed pork sausages with all the trimmings. You can also opt for delicious fruit smoothies or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

Room service
Available morning and evening.

Children
Welcome. There is a children’s menu at the gastro bar.

Pets
Oundle Mill is very dog friendly.

Air conditioning
No

Wedding license?
Yes – coming shortly.