The Varsity Hotel and Spa is nestled in the heart of Cambridge, just moments from the historic colleges and greens for which the city is so well known, but does it offer a first-class honours experience?
While it isn’t difficult to find, you can be forgiven for thinking you’ve made a wrong turn — you head towards rising bollards (a sign of Cambridge’s famous dislike of the motor car) before turning down a narrow residential street. The hotel entrance is very evident once you get closer, especially as it’s the run-up to Christmas as we stay there, so it’s surrounded by bold baubles and bright lights. It’s got a boutique feel to it from the off, with a small entrance door, which seems fitting for the Cambridge city location.
The location of The Varsity couldn’t be better, as it’s just a stone’s throw from the historic Cambridge colleges and on the banks of the River Cam. There’s lots to do and see in easy reach, from fine dining (the two Michelin star Midsummer House restaurant is just a 10-minute walk away) and classy shopping to relaxed punting and classic museums.
Having the city within walking distance is a good thing; there’s no on-site parking and no marked bays outside the hotel, so using your car would be tricky. If you do arrive by car, very efficient valet parking is available at reception, so it’s not a particular issue. The reception area, while clean and pleasant with a fabulous 360-degree print of the views from the top of the hotel around the walls, doesn’t shout luxury, and, with more than a small number of people checking in or out, it feels a little crowded.
The Varsity Hotel: The Room
Our room was on the fourth floor, nestled in the corner of the building. Pleasingly spacious, especially so for a city-centre hotel, the room’s two floor-to-ceiling windows made it feel even more bright and airy. There was a decent-sized desk in the room, although the large internet-connected Apple Mac computer was both a blessing and a curse; those wanting to get some work done could make use of the computer with its seriously large screen, but anybody turning up to use a work laptop will find that it eats into the space available on the desk.
On the other side of the room was a tablet on which you could view the restaurant menus, hotel information and even local attractions and guides, which was a nice touch. The room also had a wall-mounted Samsung television that was perfectly fit for purpose but looked a little dated with its wide bezels and relatively small screen.
Practically speaking, there’s plenty of hanging space in the old-fashioned wooden wardrobe, which also houses the ironing board and iron. There are snacks and even a bottle of wine (charged for, of course) alongside a tray of tea and coffee-making equipment; this is a step up from most places, with excellent Illy coffee in a tin, a range of tea bags, and both a cafetiere and a proper teapot to put it all together. There’s only one pack of biscuits, though; if you’re anything like me, that means one guest will go without!
The bathroom was well proportioned, with a rainforest shower in a roomy cubical, a free-standing roll-top bath, and plenty of Elemis toiletries to keep a couple going for a weekend. It wasn’t spotlessly clean, though; a distinct blob of toothpaste in one of the glasses suggested they’d not been replaced since the last guest and raised questions about what else had been missed. There’s a dressing table in there, too, which has a lovely shabby-chic vibe to it, but rather than a good-sized wall-mounted mirror above it, there is just a small oval tabletop mirror, which is a little disappointing if you’re preparing for a night on the town.
The Varsity Hotel: The Facilities
Space is at a premium in Cambridge, so slotting a premium hotel with all the amenities you might expect between historic buildings, punts on the river and cramped residential areas isn’t easy. The Varsity has managed it with aplomb, though.
Those looking for pampering can relax in the Glassworks spa, an Elemis facility in a restored bonded warehouse dating back to the 18th century. The interior is lined with extraordinary memorabilia, from Olympic medals to intra-college awards, but the highlight, surprisingly, must be the jacuzzi. Situated on the ground level, it sits behind one-way glass overlooking the River Cam and the popular boardwalk that runs alongside it. It’s a whole new level of people-watching.
Upstairs is a well-equipped gym, with the original exposed brick walls and timber roof trusses, while there’s a steam room, sauna and treatment rooms dotted around the building.
The Varsity has found room for two restaurants, with the ground-floor River Bar Steakhouse offering a meat-heavy menu, although there are fish and vegan options as well. Upstairs is the excellent Six restaurant
, predictably on the sixth floor, which has a lighter take on dinner and is where we elected to dine. It’s also where breakfast was served, which, sadly, was disappointing. Overcooked bacon, supermarket-level sausages and maple syrup that was actually maple-flavoured syrup (an important distinction!) were more Doubletree than Varsity. Still, the views across the city as the sun broke through the haze were spectacular.
Climb some stairs, and you’ll find the rooftop bar, although this is closed over winter for safety. Taking a sneaky look, the 360-degree views of a damp and grey Cambridge will be fantastic in the warm sun of summer.
The Varsity Hotel: The Verdict
There’s a great deal to like about the Varsity Hotel and Spa, and it’s undoubtedly a lovely place to spend some time. Above all else, every staff member was exemplary, perfectly walking the fine line between providing excellent or overbearing service.
There’s an interesting battle going on between contemporary and classic at the Varsity (much like the rest of Cambridge), with modern art adorning the walls of the newish building alongside historical collections in the 18th-century spa building. Some fittings are top-notch – the tablet computer is a lovely touch – but others feel dated, like the room key attached to an inconveniently oversized keyfob; key cards aren’t perfect, but they’re user-friendly.
But that’s one of a tiny handful of niggles in an otherwise superb stay. Even with that, the Varsity offers the chance of a wonderfully relaxing or engaging stay.
It’s got the location, the rooms, the facilities, the food, the rooftop bar (at least in the summer) and, most vitally, the people. Cambridge is all the better for it.
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