Wedding Ideas’ Amber-Rose Hurst checks into the Oxford institution that is The Randolph by Graduate Hotels, the ultimate minimoon hub that provides as much history and character as it does luxury and spectacular hospitality.
The Randolph, Oxford Review: A Dreamy Minimoon in the City of Spires
Famed for its cobbled streets, independent boutiques and book shops and the centuries-old colleges that form the backbone of the city, Oxford is a haven of old British history and culture.
Venture a little further away from the main shopping hub of Oxford City Centre, you’ll find one of the most historic landmarks that has seen the ‘city of dreaming spires’ evolve over the decades into the melting pot of old and new that it is so famous for.
Discover why The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels is the ultimate 5-star minimoon destination for lovers of British culture and fine hospitality below.
Location
Taking its regal pride of place on the corner of Beaumont Street and Magdalen Street, The Randolph is a giant in both size and notoriety; Being an Oxford native myself, I already knew of the hotel’s longstanding reputation as one of the finest establishments in the city.
Just a stone’s throw away from the bustling shopping street of Corn Market and the famous Oxford Playhouse, The Randolph also looks onto the grand pillared facade of The Ashmolean, Britain’s first public museum owned by the University of Oxford.
In fact, you are never more than a few minutes walking distance from Oxford’s main attractions, with the Covered Market, Pitt Rivers Museum, Bodleian Library, Christ Church and Carfax Tower and more just a hop, skip and a jump away from the hotel’s prime location.
First Impressions
Greeting us beneath the grand union jack flags that guard the main entrance were two opening the doors for us as if we were on a royal visit – what a way to make us feel special!
As we stepped through the entrance we were welcomed with a bold interior of patterned upholstery that covered the wide, towering staircase, dark wood and impressive cathedral-style arched windows.
The 19th-century Gothic Victorian building was designed by William Wilkinson, whose name is also penned to many buildings in the wealthy North Oxford area, was built to house many notable figures, from heads of state and royalty to authors and artists. In fact, The Randolph, Oxford has hosted some of academia’s and literature’s most prominent names, including Oscar Wilde.
Throughout the building, you will notice that the interior design pays subtle homage to its famous past guests of the hotel and residents of the city. You’ll find endless nods to Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland which was written in Oxford (The Alice restaurant most obviously) as well as the Hogwarts-esque flags and the fun keycards which are designed to resemble notable Oxford graduates, such as ours which was Stephen Hawking’s who studied in Oxford between 1959 and 1962.
Standing beneath giant handcrafted collegiate shields that hang high above the reception desk is a flurry of front-of-house staff who are keenly waiting for new arrivals, each of them welcoming me with a friendly smile and one very polite member of staff promptly checks me in.
As grand and stately as the foyer may seem, there is a sense of homeliness and warmth to the space which instantly makes you feel comfortable, cosy and raring to commence your stay and take a peak inside the room that will accommodate your Oxford minimoon…
Rooms at The Randolph, Oxford
We push open the heavy bedroom door and we are met with an eccentric clashing of quintessential English patterns. A maximalist’s dream interior. Look closely and the blue and white wallpaper depicts birds and plants that are native to Oxford, a lovely personal touch.
The king-sized bed perfectly accommodates this room with its luxuriously soft and crisp white bedding. We tuck ourselves in almost instantly to gauge its comfort level – it passes the test with flying colours thanks to the Premium Plush Serta Mattress.
The Alice in Wonderland theme has slightly trickled through to the bedroom with the addition of one Alice and one White Rabbit-shaped table lamp on either side of the bed.
If you forget to pack your toiletries like us, don’t fret, the white-tiled bathroom is well and truly kitted out, with luxury spa-worthy products by Malin + Goetz.
We find ourselves peering outside the window in awe at the magical spires that dominate the Oxford skyline, it’s no wonder that it is dubbed the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’. Right outside our window, we see the Martyr’s Memorial which stands magnificently in the middle of St Giles. A truly romantic view even during the moody and grey English weather of which the pointed church-like roofs of the colleges dramatically cut through.
If you choose a room with a view at booking, you will be blessed with the sight of either the Martyr’s Memorial or The Ashmolean Museum. Whichever room you choose though, you’ll be guaranteed a beautifully eccentric space filled with custom art and design inspired by local history and University icons.
Food and Drink at The Randolph, Oxford
The Alice is the main restaurant within the hotel, offering unique interpretations of classic British dishes in the most glamorous of settings. Modern artwork with almost abstract depictions of Alice in Wonderland characters adorns the restaurant walls which is lit by magnificent crystal chandeliers which hang above bubblegum pink booths.
Illustrator John Broadley created the menu artwork throughout the hotel. Taking inspiration from the celebrated British Cartoonist Osbert Lancaster, a resident of the hotel who paid for his keep in paintings, the illustrations bring together The Alice’s menu, the City of Oxford, and ideas from the story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
To start, we are served with a plate of warm sourdough bread with a side of smoked whipped butter. This is quite possibly the nicest bread we have both ever eaten! We could have happily had a few more slices and been more than happy with our dinner choice.
To start, I chose the Burrata and Roast Heritage Squash to start which was beautifully fresh and unique with scatterings on chopped hazelnut. Other starters include the parmesan tart, beef tartare and smoked eel.
Choose from a mouth-watering and eclectic array of main dishes such as the sharing steak, harissa grilled aubergine, roast Goosnargh chicken and Cornish plaice. Kudos to the kitchen for preparing beautifully presented plates.
We feel in safe hands with our waiter, so we task him and the bar staff with choosing each of us a cocktail. We are presented with the ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’, a tequila-heavy tipple with a mighty kick, and the ‘Through The Looking Glass’, a pretty and fruity gin-based option.
Breakfast is a more informal affair, with a laidback buffet arrangement which is laid out behind the bar of The Alice. There is an aromatic array of warm pastries and toast in the continental area and a hearty offering of maple bacon, hash browns, sausages, eggs and more in the adjoining room.
If you’d prefer something ordered from the kitchen, there is the option to order from a menu. Choose from dishes such as poached eggs on toast, porridge with your choice of milk and topping or a vegan breakfast.
How to Book
The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels, Beaumont St, Oxford OX1 2LN. Head to graduate hotels.com to book.
Weddings at The Randolph, Oxford
For your special day and all the celebrations surrounding it, The Randolph Hotel has the perfect space to make your wedding, civil partnership, or celebration memorable. From intimate vow exchanges to extravagant receptions, The Randolph Hotel by Graduate Hotels is an unparalleled venue for your wedding.
The Ballroom
A wedding reception, with a capacity of 350, hosted in The Randolph Hotel Ballroom is nothing short of pure elegance. The space takes inspiration from the University of Oxford interior architecture to create a truly impressive setting for your ceremony or wedding breakfast. The romantic ballroom also comes with an exclusive connecting bar.
The Lancaster Room & Drawing Room
The stately Lancaster Room features five full-length windows showcasing stunning views of the Ashmolean Museum from sunrise to sunset. A quintessentially English space named after celebrated British cartoonist Osbert Lancaster, a resident of the hotel who paid for his keep in paintings. Woven tapestries and romantic interiors make for an intimate wedding ceremony, reception, or banquet.
Wedding Menu
The Randolph’s brilliant culinary team have created elegant wedding menus, which you can customise to create bespoke courses for whatever you have in mind including intermezzo, salad, or cheese.
The wedding packages include The Randolph Hotel house wine; however, the in-house sommelier would be delighted to assist in pairing a selection of wines to accompany your wedding breakfast. The hotel’s wedding coordinators and culinary team will work with you to create a menu to reflect your vision.
Find out more about weddings at The Randolph Hotel, Oxford here.
