The Varsity, an independently-owned boutique hotel and spa in Cambridge, has undergone a £1m refurbishment of both its restaurants, te Roof Terrace and spa, with work now underway to renovate 48 bedrooms and suites.

Working with interiors brand Colefax & Fowler, The Varsity internal design team has redesigned both SIX Brasserie and the River Bar Steakhouse & Grill, as well as the Roof Terrace and the spa’s shower facilities to date. 

Featuring a striking red, blue and mustard colour scheme, SIX Brasserie’s new look combines style and sophistication with a fun and modern twist. The refurbishment includes all new tables, chairs and booth seating, made from aged oak wood, with light blue Alma Italian leather cushioning, and fabric emblematic chevron patterned backs, alongside mustard yellow leather dining chairs and booths.

New geometric and ornate style rugs have been positioned throughout the space, complementing the redesign. As well as fully upgraded interiors, SIX Brasserie now also boasts a new wood-fired oven, enhancing the restaurant’s menu offering.  

The Varsity’s second on-site dining destination, The River Bar Steakhouse & Grill, has undergone a transformation of its bar area as part of the ongoing refurb. The Quayside located Steakhouse, with views of the river has been fitted with a brand-new central bar with underlighting and eye-catching lit display cabinets hanging over the bar top. New red leather bar stools complete the space, welcoming guests to perch at the bar to enjoy one of The River Bar’s 40+ cocktails from the extensive menu. The main restaurant – set across two floors – features new neon signage, and complementary burnt orange, red and blue leather booth and chair style seating. As well as both restaurants, The Varsity has re-decked its Roof Terrace in time for guests to make the most of the summer months in Cambridge.  

Aside from food and beverage, The Varsity has also begun upgrading several other aspects of the hotel, including the changing room facilities in the Glassworks Spa which have been fully stripped out and replaced with new, modern showers, improving the guest spa experience.

Also, part of the hotel’s ongoing makeover is its 48 bedrooms, including making the Penthouse Suite double in size. All bedroom makeovers are set to be complete by June 2023, with the team taking a floor at a time to avoid any disruption for guests and continue trading as normal.