In a former life, what is now Foresters Hall once hosted Princes William and Harry for their cousin's very rowdy stag do.
Today, and with new owners, it's a beautiful family-run bolthole, bringing a timely dose of unique character with a modern outlook to the sunny Isle of Wight.
When Covid hit, husband-and-wife team Sara Curran and Peter Sussman decided to stay on the island, where Sara had moved to 15 years earlier in between working in London and travelling.
Through their jobs in TV and film, the couple had worked in different countries over the past 10 years, staying in hotels 200 nights a year.
So when the then-called North House hotel came up for sale on the island in 2020, the couple jumped at the chance of their first foray into the world of hospitality, choosing the venue for its beauty and sophistication.
Sara said: “We are huge fans of design, art, wine, food, gardens, so it’s a wonderful opportunity for us to express ourselves and share those passions with others.
“But we weren't looking for somewhere, so I guess you could say Foresters Hall found us!
“The hotel property is full of character and beautifully designed. It’s also a collection of properties brought together over the years, typical somewhat of Cowes Old Town. Part of the hotel is a Grade II-listed building dating from 1865.
“What contributes significantly to its presentation is the location in the middle of a residential street, Sun Hill, one of the most charming streets in Cowes.
“Visitors upon first entering the hotel never expect to find what they do behind the wall facing the street – the beauty and the expanse together with the outdoor terrace and the gardens provide a great surprise, yet a wonderful sense of privacy and relaxation.
“The property faces south, so it’s sunshine all day throughout the summer.”
The previous owners in 2015 had converted what was Rawlings Hotel, which was where Harry and William partied the night away and considered "raucous and quite downmarket", to North House in a "dramatic" renovation over a number of years.
By the time Sara and Peter had the keys to the hotel on 1 April 2022, much of the "heavy lifting" had been complete, allowing them to focus on design elements rather than construction work.
They planned to open the doors just 28 days later, to be in time for the spring/summer season.
"We needed to assemble a team and there was much to fix and to do. It was a bit crazy. We closed for the season on 13 December 2022 and managed to finally take a breath,” Sara tells me.
“Over the following two months, we did all the things we wanted to do before opening but just didn’t have the time – fresh coat of paint in places, reupholstered the in-room arm chairs, put down new flooring and rugs, and added new drapes and blinds.
“We also replaced the sun loungers by the pool, installed new shelving in the bar together with an elaborate wine preservation system, added carefully curated furniture, books and artwork to create even more leisurely space – we want the hotel to fully reflect our casual and relaxing manner!
“For the coming season, we now have a proper grip on the place and while always a gorgeous property, it now fully reflects the beautiful and relaxed presentation we intended.”
Built in 1865, Foresters Hall was the meeting place for the Cowes branch of the Ancient Order of Foresters - something which inspired the couple with the bolthole's decor.
When designing the hotel, named amongst Conde Nast Traveller's top 15 best beach hotels in 2022, Sara and Peter took their cues from its location, to offer an uncompromising style that cleverly walks the line between old and new.
The interiors are inspired by the building’s beginnings as a theatre and taking the lead of The Main House, is the lobby, bar, library, restaurant and Rooms 1 to 5, which honour their conception with a contemporary twist.
Guests are greeted by an entrance featuring calming and uplifting tones with warmly lit hallways which open into light-filled bedrooms, where colour palettes are softer and paired with light wood floorings.
Other simple but classic touches include chesterfield sofas, brass light-fittings and working fireplaces.
There are 14 rooms in total, with each looking and feeling as though they could be straight out of a stylish friend’s townhouse and feature modern furniture from British designers and personal quirks – proper blankets, radios and curated artworks on the walls.
Unlike other hotels in the area, all rooms have either sea views, or overlook Cowes Old Town or the terraced garden.
Sara explains: “While the furniture and surroundings are stylish and beautiful, nothing is too precious to enjoy. And the same extends to the hotel bedrooms.
“While all 14 rooms are different to each other - and we book hotel rooms individually, not by a category of room - that perfect blend of stylish yet comfortable is featured in every room.
“The rooms are in three separate parts of the hotel – five rooms in the Main House, three rooms in the Lodge and six rooms in the Garden Suites and there is quite a different feel to each part.
“Room three in the Main House has a stylish townhouse feel with huge windows overlooking Sun Hill, bespoke Farrow & Ball wallpaper, in-room rolltop bath and a real fire.
“Room eight in the Lodge has original listed elements from when it was the meeting place of the Foresters including the original plaque dating from 1865.
“One of our favourite rooms is the cocktail bar with bespoke wallpaper, original artworks and assorted velvet chairs, sofas and footstools in rose, mustard, sage and cerulean.”
Sara also reveals how the hotel is also home to a very international art collection, with more than two dozen pieces assembled from their years working and travelling inLondon, Dublin, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles.
These include paintings and sculptures by English, Scottish and Irish artists such as Kirsty Wither, James Harrigan, Mick Wilkins and Cliona Doyle, to North American artists and photographers such as Alex Katz, Jim Dine, Josef Karsh and Annie Leibovitz.
In terms of splashing out, Sara admits the single most expensive item was the new Bermar Wine Preservation system. She said it was important to best present their celebrated wine list.
Whereas for the budget buys, she admits: "We think the great value buys brings us back to the real estate, it just can’t be duplicated. The uniqueness of the property and the history of the building anchor all that goes with the hotel."
So what's Sara's favourite part of her bolthole?
"That’s hard to say. Interestingly, there are not many swimming pools on the Isle of Wight and our heated salt-water pool and limestone deck is gorgeous. Nothing nicer than sitting out by our pool on a beautiful summer day.”
forestershall.com
