The historic Kings Arms Hotel in the Lake District has reopened to critical acclaim from both tourists and locals after an extensive refurbishment project.
The Keswick town-centre hotel, which was originally a 17th century coaching inn, closed its doors at the beginning of 2023 for 7 weeks as it underwent a full ground-floor refurbishment.
Plans included a complete reimagining of the hotel entrance, bar, reception and restaurant areas; along with a handful of guest bedrooms.
For the ambitious project, family-owned Lake District Hotels teamed up with Scottish based interior designers ‘Greyline Design Studio’ to transform the cosy hotel into a much more characterful and welcoming space that oozes style.
“Our goal was to create a design scheme that would complement and enhance the historic interior of the hotel, whilst improving its function and aesthetic appeal for tourists, families and locals.”
“The property is over 300 years old, therefore great care was taken to preserve all historic features including the original oak beams and support post which were incorporated into the new scheme and developed into prominent features.”
“Bold heritage paint colours were used throughout the property, blending classic colours with contemporary trends to create a timeless style; and traditional Victorian style encaustic tiles, a rich oak herringbone floor and an antiqued brass bar top were installed to further enhance the heritage feel.” – Gavin from Greyline
One of the most eye-catching features of the fresh design is the new reception area which draws similarities to that of a Victorian ticket office. The significant reconfiguration of this area has not only enhanced the flow of natural light into the hotel, but has also transformed the sense of arrival for guests, with the reception desk now visible from the entrance.
Also receiving positive feedback are the 7 refurbished hotel bedrooms, with each room boasting its own unique design.
The focal point of each bedroom is a decadent patterned feature wallpaper that gives inspiration to the bespoke colour theming of the individual room.
The dramatic wallpaper used in each room is recyclable, PVC free and eco-friendly, with the manufacturer partnering with the World Land Trust.
“We are incredibly pleased with the finished results and the guest feedback in person and on social media has been overwhelming. The refurbishment has completely changed the whole feel of the hotel and it is very rewarding to see guests’ reactions when they enter the property.” – Dani Hope, Director of Lake District Hotels
The Kings Arms Hotel is open daily providing hearty, homecooked meals, a wide selection of cask ales and overnight accommodation in one of its 13 bedrooms in the centre of Keswick. To book a room, please call or click here to book online.
