Press Cuttings
‘Room with a View’ - Northeast Exclusive, December 2007
“Its hard to believe that there’s not a boutique hotel in historic, touristy Durham. Mary Parker has changed all that – in a very stylish way…”
As views go, there can be few to compare. The glorious Durham Cathedral almost close enough to touch. In the autumn late afternoon sunshine it looks ethereal and golden, framed by stately trees and their russet leaves.
…Breathtaking is undoubtedly the word…
… Their furnishings are chic and contemporary but softened by antique mirrors and soft colours. But time and time again your view falls back to that amazing view.
Grafton House has just opened its doors as, surprisingly, Durham’s first boutique hotel. There are other more corporate places to stay in the city but until now nowhere that would really make it in the ‘hip hotels’ guide.
…The Hotel is in South Street, one of Durham’s most impressive streets because of its amazing Cathedral Views.
…Each room is different, some soft and feminine, some more masculine but each with a character and ambiance of its own. I’m not sure if I could choose a favourite…
… Many of the bedrooms have been built with extensive en-suites. “I think that designers sometimes forget about the bathrooms and they can become quite uniform, but we have made them into real features, perfect for relaxing after a hard days work or play”…
The result is certainly impressive – as is the food on offer. Victoria Turnbull… heads up the kitchen – and brings along produce from her own allotment to her kitchens.
‘Cathedral View’ – Living Magazine
“I think the house is still very true to how it was – the former housekeeper said Gwen would have loved it”
Draw back the heavy curtains in one of the stunning bedrooms in Durham’s first boutique hotel and you can’t miss it. Make your way down to breakfast in the immaculate dining room and there it is again.
Durham Cathedral…
The Cathedral is regularly voted the nations favourite building and it towers in front of Grafton House, giving a stunning outlook from the city’s first boutique hotel. If location is anything to go by, Mary Parker has struck gold.
…Mary spent over a year creating the hotel’s interior with designer Anna Hall. Every piece of furniture is bespoke and every room has been individually designed.
The immaculate dining room, which seats about 26 diners in one sitting, boasts unrivalled views of the Cathedral and has a light, airy feel, with powder blue chairs complementing the neutral-coloured walls and crisp white tablecloths…
Although Grafton House aspires for grandeur, it is far from being pretentious. When you walk through the door, the hotel has a welcoming, homely feel, with modern décor complementing the building’s history.
The ground-floor Garden Room (the Snug) epitomises the blend of genres, with authentic-style wooden floorboards and sumptuous sofa styled alongside trendy coffee tables, with jars of cookies dotted around for that home-from-home effect.
And while the theme continues throughout the hotel – with the building maintaining, on the whole, its original layout, and some of the previous homeowner’s original fittings and features included in the design – each room has a distinct individuality.
… ten bedrooms, each named after North-East landmark monuments…
Formally the drawing room of the house, the Cathedral Suite – one of the four which Mary refers to as “wow rooms” because of their superb features and views – boasts the buildings original pillars and a centrepiece mirror that belonged to the previous owner.
…Castle Suite has a stunning bathroom, with an Infinity bath that fills from the ceiling – Grafton House is one of only seven UK hotels to boast such a feature…
…Warkworth, with its dramatic views of Durham’s main monument, will double up as a guest room and a location for civil ceremonies. The hotel was recently granted a licence and preparation to launch its wedding package…are now being drawn up.
Mary was so determined to make her ten bedroom venue a resounding success that as well as hiring an interior designer and guest relations expert, she contacted leading gastronomist and hospitality expert Roy Ackerman to help make Grafton House’s dining experience the best it could be.
…Now, the restaurant is a central feature of the South Street hotel and has a menu which changes daily created by chef Victoria Turnbull, who uses produce from her own allotment among her ingredients.
Since opening in mid-December, the hotel is now beginning to feature on the North-East social scene, and its rooms and restaurant are fully booked days in advance. It has made such an impression on the region that regional development groups One NorthEast and County Durham Development Company have both given the venue their backing.
“Things are going brilliantly, and people are saying some lovely things about us…We’re Durham’s first boutique hotel and I’m delighted we’re here.”
‘Food lover’s paradise’ – Metrolife, Wednesday 30th January 2008
The sheer scale and grandiosity of Durham’s landmarks…revive the soul and make the heart soar. And there no better place to enjoy it than the recently opened Grafton House, which is set in a conservation area. Owner Mary Parker has created a haven with arguably the best views in the country. From the minute you arrive and spot the home-made cup cakes beneath Victorian glass cloches, you know it going to be good.
With a kitchen that concentrates on local produce, head chef Victoria Turnbull prefers to let her food, rather than her ego, do the talking.
‘Clean and uncluttered’ – Metrolife, Wednesday 5th March 2008
“There’s no huge innovation here, but then neither are there any nose-bleeding prices”
Last September, Durham was voted the best city in the UK by readers of the Conde Nast Traveller magazine ahead of Edinburgh and London. It’s no real surprise…But another place has currently got me in something of a lather: Grafton House.
…it’s as polished and poised as the neighbouring cathedral. Included are such lovely touches as the home-made cakes left in the lounge and photographs by Sasa Savic on the walls.
Parker has been equally smart with the dining room. There are no heavily laden blackboards or menus the size of a novel, but instead a simple table d’hote features a choice of four starters, mains and desserts that change daily..
Head chef Victoria Turnbull appears confident enough in her own touch to do very little with the ingredients, opting for a relatively simple approach… Clean and uncluttered, the emphasis here is on the flavours…
Despite being relaxed and simple, Grafton House has a definite personality, making eating here a joy. Durham may well be impressive already, but this place simply adds to its charms.
Hotel given licence for weddings’ – Durham Times, Friday 14th March 2008
Last Friday, Durham County Council gave permission for civil marriages and civil partnership ceremonies to be held at Grafton House, in South Street, Durham, from April 1.
Mary Parker…said afterward she was absolutely delighted at the outcome.
“…I think it’s nice that people can enjoy the splendour of the street.”
…Councillor David Marshall said: “It’s a very beautiful street with lovely vies of the castle and cathedral…Whenever I have foreign visitors, I always take them down there. It’s a very quiet street. I think it would be lovely to have a wedding there.”
‘Great view with great cooking’ – The Journal, Friday 11th April 2008
Durham City is one of the most picturesque around. Whether it’s the cobbled marketplace, the winding streets with the bijoux houses or leafy riverside walks, it’s a city of great character.
Looming over this collection of quaint and historical is the monumental cathedral. The Grafton Hotel has a different take on this magnificent view because it is situated on a hill directly opposite the cathedral. From pretty much wherever you are, you look up and there it is.
Chef Vicky Turnbull takes great care over everything that leaves her kitchen…she even grows some of her own ingredients.
…it’s extra clever when you can make…basic ingredients sparkle like this…
So if it’s a different view of the cathedral or a new take on excellent food you’re looking for, the Grafton has it all.
‘The dinky but plush boutique hotel Grafton House is exactly what you want in such a picturesque city as Durham. Located on a pretty street in the centre of town, it has an excellent, well-priced restaurant and spectacular views of the castle and cathedral.’ – Stella, The Sunday Times, Sunday 20th April 2008-09-15
‘Grafton House Durham’ – Sleeper, Issue 17 March/April 2008
You could be forgiven for passing by Grafton House without noticing it being there. It’s not the most obvious of commercial residences, plus attention is largely focused in the opposite direction at the spectacular view of two of the city’s finest landmarks. The inviting entrance hall and groomed topiary are the only clues that this is in fact Durham’s very first boutique hotel.
“It’s not as though there are fluorescent lights or masses of comings and goings. The hotel is very intimate and quiet, it’s a hidden gem.”
From the outside, the unassuming hotel blends in with its surroundings careful not to detract from the castle and cathedral it overlooks. Inside it is a different story. Simple, contemporary design, attention to detail, and the quality of furnishings are by no means overlooked. “I always knew I wanted the place to feel home…I didn’t want it to be too quirky…Although I want people to come in and be wowed I don’t just want the pieces to be talking points, they have to be comfortable as well. It was always the idea that there was nothing too pretentious, just very honest.”
On entering…the homely understated feel is apparent…as you progress through the house, it becomes obvious that there’s no call for showy furniture, eccentric embellishments and brazen colour schemes here. The original features, superior view, and modest furnishings more than speak for themselves.
The colour palate remains neutral throughout the hotel with splashes of plum, crimson and olive in the form of silk cushions and deep pile rugs. The padded headboards in soft brown tones add further warmth and elegance…
The public areas of the hotel are decked with solid walnut flooring complemented by the bespoke furniture and a range of seating…The beautifully crafted, fully stocked honesty bar tucked at the bottom of the stairs…The smart restaurant chairs, upholstered in duck egg blue velvour, set off the interiors perfectly.
The dining room has just one sitting per evening – something of a rarity in British restaurants – that allows guests to enjoy their meal at leisure savouring the seasonal tastes…
With its simple contemporary design, sumptuous furnishings and timeless décor, Grafton House gains its opulence from the quality of materials used rather than designer pieces and colours that can be quickly outdated….you would be hard pushed to find a better room with a view in Durham.
Escape – The Observer, Sunday 11th May 2008
Durham is one of those cities where heritage seems to ooze out of every crack in the pavement, yet staying here you’re typically faced with a choice of ‘Ye Olde B&B’ or the bland, grey face of the corporate hotel. Until now… a boutique hotel.
Durham is a great city – and now has a hotel to match.
A discreet modern gem in the heart of this historical city.
Taste, North East England – The Journal, Friday 11th July 2008.
Grafton House promises much on the dining front. Words like “unpretentious,” “simple,” “delicious,” “local” and “seasonal”…
…Grafton House…The boutique hotel is set in the heart of a conservation area overlooking Durham’s magnificent cathedral, is a model of understated contemporary elegance and design.
…light and airy dining area…has nine tables and does no more than 30 covers a night. Diners are encouraged to relax and eat in their own time.
Vicky describes her food as “multi-cultural” … Many of the ingredients…couldn’t have come from closer to home – Vicky’s own allotment to be precise.
She is a passionate cook who is passionate about the ingredients she uses… What she cant supply to the kitchen herself she sources from quality North East suppliers.
North East Exclusive – July / August 2008
Chef Vicky Turnbull regularly turns up at work with armsful of the latest seasonal offerings from her city allotment.
Super fresh herbs and veggies, some still with the soil attached, and packed with flavour.
…Vicky bakes scrummy bread, with the scented rosemary from her own plot, and she makes a mean roasted Jerusalem artichoke, hazelnut and mixed leaves salad, again with the artichokes from her own allotment.
“You can definitely taste the difference with regards to freshness,” says Vicky.
‘I’ve got to go back to old Durham town’ – Travel Durham, Saturday 16th August 2008
Grafton House is an exclusive boutique hotel which has recently opened in the city’s much sought-after South Street. Boasting just 10 rooms…this hotel is privately-run to the most exacting standards.
The rooms have all been individually-styled, with attention to detail the key. No detail has been spared when it comes to customer comfort. Huge, comfortable beds (described by a previous guest as coma-inducing), hand made walnut furniture, remote control power showers, state-of-the-art bathrooms, classic décor in every room, flatscreen, wall-mounted televisions… well, you are beginning to get the feel for the place by now, aren’t you? It’s a home from home, with plenty of luxury thrown in for good measure.
Quintessentially Grafton House
