As hinted at by name, a Graduate Hotel takes up residence in a university town, with design telling stories of its location. Ancient Oxford and Cambridge. Both are rich in stories.
At Oxford, residing in the former Randolph Hotel, the Graduate tells the story of Colin Dexter, author of the Inspector Morse novels. Mr Dexter penned parts of his novels in what’s now named the Morse Bar. And of Alice in Wonderland, Oxford being the home, for much of his life, of her creator Lewis Carroll.
At Cambridge, the Graduate sits on the banks of the River Cam, as a neighbour to Scudamore’s Punting Company. Founded in 1910, Scudamore’s are responsible for the institution of ‘pleasure punting’ on the Cam. Now idle punts hang from the hotel’s lobby walls.