WHAT? WHERE?

Well, hello Oxford. You’ll find The Randolph Hotel Oxford, a Graduate by Hilton, bang in the centre of the city, opposite the world-famous Ashmolean Museum to one side and, around the corner, the honey-stoned Balliol College, one of Oxford’s oldest colleges, founded in 1263.

This Victorian gothic grande dame of a building, first opened in 1866, proudly wears its five star status, and has seen a full procession of royalty, world leaders and literary giants over the years, from Evelyn Waugh to Kingsley Amis, Oscar Wilde and Philip Larkin. It’s been used as a location for Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited, Shadowlands, The Golden Compass and several times in Inspector Morse (there’s now a Morse bar with a pleasingly tongue-in-cheek portrait of John Thaw in character over the fireplace).

THE VIBE

snug — The Alice restaurant at the Randolph Hotel

The hotel received a much-needed overhaul in 2021-22 as part of Graduate Hotels (now owned by Hilton). The slightly old-fashioned pomp has given way to a modern, relaxed, energising vibe. Whereas 10 years ago you’d have been scared to step across the threshold to ask if they serve afternoon tea, now the hotel actively welcomes the public to its eclectic spaces – it’s not just for those staying overnight.

interior and chandeliers — The private dining area

You can have a cocktail or coffee in the pet-friendly Morse bar with its roaring fire and traditional wood panelling (I use it quite a bit for meetings when I’m the city), or head to the huge Drawing Room with floor-to-ceiling windows for a playful update on Victorian elegance. You’ll either love or hate the mustard and pink velvet sofas and chairs against the blue striped walls – but you can’t ignore them!

There’s an absolute knock-out of a private dining space (above) and cocktail lounge with its red velvet banquette seating and floral wallpaper drench across ceiling and walls (below).

Perhaps most striking, though, is The Alice, for all-day dining – a riotous colour and style mash up, with waltzer banquettes in retro baby pink matched and chairs upholstered in green, a patterned blue fabric double height ceiling with the colossal chandelier as its centre piece. It’s unlike anywhere else you’ll find in Oxford so if you like the energy that comes from the clash of tradition and modernity, you’ll feel right at home.

SCOFF & QUAFF

I used to eat at The Randolph Hotel when I was a student – my parents would visit and take me here for a hushed, reverential Sunday lunch with the food wheeled out on trolleys under enormous silver cloches and we’d try not to giggle. I’m pleased to report that things are now very different. The Alice is a much more welcoming space (I’ve already eaten a relaxed drop-in lunch with my son here) – and on the Saturday evening for this review, the restaurant is packed out and buzzy.

Hero at Randolph Hotel — Saturday night at The Alice

If you’re a long-time reader of Muddy you’ll be well acquainted with The Randolph Hotel Oxford’s executive head chef Chris Godfrey as I was a massive fan of his brilliant Native Feasts supper clubs (famous in the region before lockdown put the screws on it) and prior to that his Michelin-star cooking at The Charles Napier in Chinnor. No surprise, then, that the food – British with a modern twist – is excellent here, whether you’re going for set menus, Sunday lunch, afternoon tea (there’s a vegan option too), in-room service or pretty much anything in between.

‘Randolph Classics’ such as fish and chips, burgers and Caesar salads are all available as easy-pleasers, but there’s also a more elevated à la carte menu.

I had a delicate potted Cornish crab with pickled celery and cucumber and melba toast for entrée, very prettily plated (£14), followed by generous chalk stream trout, accompanied by an Indian twist of aloo chaat potatoes and coconut coriander chutney that complemented rather than overpowered the delicate fish. (£24).

We tried several desserts (sorry, not sorry) including my usual ‘test’ dessert of vanilla panna cotta with Yorkshire rhubarb compote, oat biscuits and meringue (£9.50). Sticky toffee pudding did call my name, but the lime-roasted pear and frangipane tart was the smarter option.

AFTERNOON TEA

Pinkies are poised here between 12pm – 4pm every day for afternoon tea (vegan and gluten free options available) with a brand new Alice in Wonderland tea plus accompanying mocktail for £39.50. Add a tenner for a glass of Nyetimber Classic Cuvee or Demi-Sec. Happily portions are generous – flouncy scones, neat sandwich soldiers and glossy chocolates wink at you from tiered silver cake stands.

Randolph Hotel sitting room — The Drawing Room

I’d opted to eat with my teenager in the Drawing Room where the pianist was tinkling away, but you can also choose the less formal setting The Alice – probably a safer bet if you’re taking younger kids.

PILLOW TALK

There are 151 rooms to choose from, including 11 suites, mostly in the historical Victorian building though there’s also a new Worcester wing if you prefer a bath and courtyard view. Rooms are all shapes and sizes, from a double through to the 50 sqm Royal suite, though they all have fabulously comfortable beds (250 thread count). I stayed in a suite on the second floor with amazing views out onto The Ashmolean and the Martyrs’ Memorial out front, erected in 1840 to commemorate bishops Latimer and Ridley and Archbishop Cranmer, all burned at the stake at nearby Broad Street in 1555-56.

Stylistically it’s traditional with a pleasing side order of quirky. Dining tables and chairs, if you happen to be in a suite, are dark wood. The floral sofas are slouchy, the blue wallpaper is what one might euphemistically term a statement (I liked it, you may not!).

Bathrooms are calm, white, pared back with walk-in showers, and full of MALIN+GOETZ wash products. A framed photo of Oscar Wilde perches on the wall above the bed, along with playful bedside lamps of Alice and the white rabbit. The swirling carpet is a friend to no-one but I felt very relaxed and at home here and the longer I stayed, the more I loved the room.

THE SPA

Central Oxford is not blessed with an abundance of top-notch spas, so The Randolph’s soothing, subterranean Wellness Centre should be on your radar. Open to the public, with a brand new spa menu in partnership with top Spanish beauty brand Germaine de Capuccini, the space is compact, but thoughtfully designed, with four Treatment rooms along with a Thermal Suite of steam room, aroma steam room, jacuzzi, sensation shower, bio sauna, rock sauna and ice fountain.

The spa menu offers more variety than I expected, with massages, facials, body treatments, pre-natal, waxing, deep tissue, all available and some crowd-pleasers like the De-Stress Facial and Rainforest Harmony Ritual (90 mins – bliss!). If you’re in easy distance of the hotel, luck you – memberships are available starting from £55 per month for access to the thermal suite, discounts on treatments and a chic complimentary tote bag.

OUT & ABOUT

Radcliffe Camera. Credit Instagram @oxford_uni

In the centre of Oxford everything is at your finger tips, all within easy walking distance. You’re literally thirty seconds from the Oxford Playhouse theatre and two minutes from New Theatre, and conveniently placed for all the big hitting sights (Sheldonian Theatre, The Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera) as well as on the right side of town to explore Oxford’s cooler, indie district of Jericho.

I’d recommend you make time to see some of the Oxford colleges (my tips: Christ Church, Trinity, St John’s, Magdalen and Worcester should be top of your lists), you’re minutes from the young, groovy district of Jericho with its bars, indie shops and trendy cafés, and then onto Oxford’s best kept secret of Port Meadow, 137 hectares of land in the heart of the city. University Parks are a 10min walk away too, where you’ll also find the Natural History Museum.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Clearly if you’re a tourist you’re going to be in heaven here. But it’s also a surprisingly good option for locals and passing trade for dining, spa treatments and private events including weddings. The Randolph’s five star credentials may feel a bit daunting but go through the doors and you’ll feel very different. The staff are very professional but there’s no hauteur here – they were charming and helpful.

NOT FOR: I enjoyed the crazy-clashy decor because it’s so different to what’s usually seen around Oxford, but it won’t be for everyone – the baby pink banquette seating is ‘out there’, that’s for sure.

THE DAMAGE: Very good value for a five star hotel. Low season rates (Deluxe King to Suite) start at £259/£399; Summer season rates (Deluxe King to Suite) start at £309/£499, plus you’ll get Hilton Honors points and perks.

The Randolph Hotel a Graduate by Hilton, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LN.
Tel: 01865 256400. Email: therandolph.frontdesk@hilton.com

Review: The Randolph Hotel Oxford – a grande dame with a sexy new spa

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