What was your design / refurbishment timeframe ?
We allowed 18 months , but it took four years for a number of reasons , including COVID and conservation issues .
Were there any project pitfalls ?
As a company we have a vast understanding of approaching conservation in a productive way , but it took a lot longer than we had anticipated to come to an agreement with Medway Council and a lot of redesigns . Secondly , there was a lack of supply of electricity to Rochester and that issue alone delayed us significantly .
How did you find the balance between an excellent design-led refurb which also kept to budget ?
When you are taking on an historic property it is always a black box of unknowns , until you unpeel the cover to see what ’ s there , you have to have a large contingency budget . When you reroute all of the mechanical and electrical services throughout a building that is over 350 years old in parts , you don ’ t know what you are going to find until you start the project .
Where do you start with interior styling for the property to harness its traditional architecture but make it appealing to a modern hotel audience ?
My mother Julie was the interior designer – she would try to find one outstanding piece that worked well in a particular space and build the story of the décor around that one piece . It was a case of not being too scared to make bold choices on colour that may not traditionally sit in a room , but that would bridge the gap between traditional and modern living .
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