Oxford’s new luxury lifestyle hotel – The Store – has officially opened its doors. The Store sits in the building of the former Oxford institution, Boswells and features 101 rooms, three dining outlets and bars, including a rooftop bar, a co-working space and a cocooning urban spa. Every detail is inspired by the rich heritage of the building’s former life as a historic department store. The hotel opens in partnership with hospitality experts Reef Group and EQ Group.
The Rooms – Evoking Oxford’s rich tapestry
Arranged over seven floors, the hotel is the convergence of two historical buildings, which have been sensitively restored and designed by Urban R. Reef Group’s architects and designers. The 101 rooms have six district design typologies, some with plush velvet headboards, panelled walls, and bold art deco features, others with leafy courtyard views, a muted palette and textures crafted for comfort. Inspired by the city, bespoke patterns and furniture shapes echo the tiles and patterns of college rooftops or follow the line of the city’s ‘dreaming spires’.
General Manager Simon Drake said, “Boswells was one of the world’s oldest department stores, family-owned and much-loved by the local community. In the tradition of great British department stores, it was a place of discovery – a treasure trove of toys, cosmetics, fashion, household essentials, a haberdashery, a well-known tearoom and café. Throughout the hotel, we wanted to honour this and play on the same idea of intrigue, unexpected fun, and curiosity. We can’t wait to share the new space with visitors and locals.”
Treadwell – An untraditionally British signature restaurant
The hotel’s signature restaurant, Treadwell, is named after the historic Treadwell Passage. Dating back to dating back to 1841. The ground on which the restaurant now sits was once a bustling and somewhat notorious hub of Oxford, home to a fish hawker, shoemaker, scavenger, needlewoman and more, and all characters are referenced in playful ways throughout the menu. The restaurant also echoes Treadwell Passage’s history as a meeting place full of life and variety – a place where guests can expect the unexpected.
The kitchen is headed up by Chef Andy Robinson, who has previously held positions in multi-rosette and Michelin-starred kitchens in Johannesburg and the UK. Andy has a passion for travel, creativity, and experimentation, and he is on a mission to introduce ‘untraditionally British’ dishes to Oxford, using sustainably sourced produce from local suppliers.
The menu takes classic British dishes and gives them an international twist, demonstrating Andy’s well-travelled history. Dish highlights include Ruby Murray chicken pie, Bangers of Mash with a Cajun gravy, and Rosemary & Thyme Brined Pork Tomahawk. Treadwell will also serve brunch and Sunday Lunch, including Stuffed Raspberry and Vanilla Cheesecake Croissants, Chorizo, Manchego, Fried Egg Sandwiches, and family-style sharing roasts, including Lemon and Thyme Chicken.
The Bar – Workspace by day, fireside snug by night
Ideal for remote workers looking for a cosy spot or friends seeking a post-work drink, there are comfortable seating areas and sofas, as well as a fireplace. The Sips and Scavenger Bites Menu will serve light bites and afternoon tea featuring Miso Trout & Avocado Sandwiches, Blackberry and Basil Jam Tartlets, and Pulled Ham Hock Sliders.
Located on the ground floor, The Bar at The Store is a casual drinking, co-working and dining space which will seat guests both inside on street level and al fresco style on Broad Street. During the day, The Bar is a multi-use space, open to remote workers looking for a cosy yet chic spot, and after 6.00pm will become a laptop-free zone. It is the perfect spot for watching Oxonians go by on a sunny afternoon. On colder days, the space will still be light-filled thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, the originals of the former department store, and will remain cosy in the fireside snug area, The Snug Bar.
For small bites, the Sips and Scavenger Bites Menu will incorporate ingredients already in the kitchens to design inventive and surprising dishes such as Loaded Brisket & Ogleshield Bombs, Deep deep-fried lasagne Goujons, and Crab & Nduja Gratin, matching the playful energy of the bar service. Afternoon tea will also be served, including a Champagne option, with a menu that gives classic Afternoon Tea dishes an intriguing twist, including the Miso Trout & Avocado Sandwich, Blackberry and Basil Jam Tartlets, and Pulled Ham Hock Slider.
The Roof Terrace – Bespoke cocktails, year-round smoker, and unrivalled views
On the hotel’s fifth floor is the panoramic rooftop bar and terrace, The Roof at The Store, offering standout views over Oxford, a year-round Smokehouse serving smoked meats and cheeses and bespoke spirits created with Hawkridge distillery.
The Terrace Original Cocktails are four unique concoctions created by the bar’s mixologists, not found anywhere else, each with a nod to the history of Oxford: ‘The 1738’ is the date Boswell’s was established; ‘Modern Education’ is a quote from Brideshead Revisited, an iconic novel based on Oxford University student life; “The Value of Nothing” is a quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray, written by Oscar Wilde, a renowned Oxford University alumnus; and ‘Second Breakfast’ is a quote from The Lord of the Rings, perhaps the most well-known piece of literature to come from the city of Oxford. The remainder of the extensive menu is split into 8 sections, each based on a classic cocktail and containing multiple variations on the classic.
Led by Bar Manager Justin Rinker, The Roof will serve The Store’s own bespoke spirits, created in partnership with Hawkridge Distillery: The Store Vodka, The Store Rum, and The Store Gin. Having won the world’s best London Dry Gin for 3 years running, Hawkridge is worthy a partner to create these unique spirits, which will immerse the senses through their blend of craftsmanship, purity, and handpicked botanicals and natural grains. These crystal-clear elixirs are the perfect bases for guests’ favourite cocktails. For those who want to take a memento of The Store home with them, the spirits will be available to buy, another way in which the hotel is embracing its origin story as a department store.
Founder of Hawkridge, James Gurney, said: “We worked closely with the whole team at The Store to create these top-range spirits that can only be tasted or purchased by guests of The Store. While gin is the number one spirit in the UK, we wanted to bring in all three options, with different flavour notes and uses. The gin is citrus-focused with a hint of rosemary, while the rum is blended in-house to maintain purity and give it a deep textured flavour with notes of caramel, vanilla, and tobacco. Finally, the vodka is created using an old Polish process, which remains a secret in our distiller, to produce an exceptionally smooth drink, that could be drunk neat, as well as providing a perfect base for so many cocktails.”
Pairing the cocktails will be a year-round Smokehouse Menu, with guests sharing the space with the hotel’s own smoker and open coal grill to serve succulent smoked meats and melted cheese, as well as American classics served from the coals perfectly juxtaposing the elegance of the setting and the cocktails. With an emphasis on unexpected experiences, The Store will host several pop-ups themed to the season and occasion.
The Spa – Cocooning walnut-panelled walls
The Spa at The Store is a subterranean wellness haven with treatments created in partnership with British brand Oskia. Taking a results-driven approach to treatments, Oskia combines bespoke anti-ageing techniques, drawing on traditional knowledge and modern advancements to leave the skin, body and mind rejuvenated and glowing. The spa features a sauna, steam room, private treatment rooms, holistic studio space and spa suite rooms. Local practitioners will be running a programme of yoga classes, sound baths and pop-up wellness experiences.
The entrance to The Store is situated on Broad Street, in the centre of Oxford and near the Northern Gateway to the city. The hotel is adjacent to Cornmarket Street and within walking distance of the city’s major historical and cultural landmarks. The Store takes Oxford’s beloved Boswells into its next chapter. It evokes the rich tapestry of Oxford through bespoke patterns and furniture, locally inspired touchpoints and artworks, and a sense of curiosity, of wonder for which the historic building has long been known and loved.
Read more: From iconic past to lux future: Oxford’s historic Boswells Store is reborn as a boutique hotel
General Manager Simon Drake commented, “It’s no exaggeration to say that The Store is an institution in the making, not just for guests staying at the hotel, but for locals and those seeking out a new culinary destination. Our restaurant and bars are inspired by our location, whether it be the intriguing history, unmatched views, or heritage of the Boswell’s department store. We have a vision to make an occasion out of the everyday and ensure each visit is a cause for celebration.”
Rooms start from £285 per night, including breakfast.
