A summer reading collection, curated by Faber, an independent publishing house since 1929. Find these books as recent additions to our library shelves.
Bringing The Brackenrigg Inn back to life
Persian rugs, century-old armchairs, and secret bookcases tucked in cosy corners. From finding inspiration in Lakeland literature to getting lost in a furniture maker’s barn and rummaging through Penrith antique shops, the renovation story of our country pub, The Brackenrigg Inn, is steeped in local character.
We asked Gillian Panter, the multi-talented interior designer at Kay Elliott Architects who led the project, to talk us through her creative process and how she balanced heritage with contemporary style in reimagining this historic Cumbrian pub.
Interiors with a tale to tell
Writing a new chapter in the colourful life of The Brackenrigg Inn, Gillian used the idea of local stories to tie the space together and bring fresh perspectives to the scheme.
“We came up with the concept of literature of the Lakes – this loose idea of ‘tales of Ullswater’ – but also exploring what storytelling means in the context of a local pub,” she explains. “It’s having a pint at the end of a long walk, recounting adventures and sharing anecdotes around the bar. It’s all about bringing people together and that sense of community spirit and local life lived to the brim.”
Downstairs, an eclectic mood emerges through William Morris accents, a “library feature wall”, leather Chesterfield sofas, wall panelling, a rich colour palette of bottle greens and burnt oranges – and a characterful mix of antique furniture with contemporary finishes. “It’s about subtly bringing these hints into the design without it being too literal,” Gillian says.
The bar celebrates traditional Cumbrian pub style, with walnut wood shelving, antique mirrored glass, chalkboards, brass details, and – what else – a “plentiful selection of drinks!”
Alcoves and armchairs by original fireplaces create cosy corners for conversation or reading, while Wordsworth and Wainwright beckon from nooks and crannies playfully converted into secret bookcases and quiet spots for relaxation.
"Alcoves and armchairs by original fireplaces create cosy corners, while Wordsworth and Wainwright beckon from nooks and crannies playfully converted into secret bookcases."
Bedtime reading
Upstairs, the interior tale takes new twists and turns, with each ensuite, dog-friendly bedroom brimming with distinctive style, and six out of seven boasting far-reaching lake views.
The cosy nature of the rooms “is all part of the character and heritage of the building,” says Gillian. “It’s all about feeling snug and protected from the elements. The sense of luxury comes from the details.”
After a long day in the fells, guests can escape upstairs to a timeless rural sanctuary of soothing earthy tones and sumptuous textiles, enlivened with contemporary pops of bold colour and fresh floral prints.
In a nod to the literary theme, some bedrooms feature handcrafted wallpaper made with the pages of Lake District books. “You can get generic wallpaper that looks like pages of books, but I was keen to use local books that were more relevant,” says Gillian. “If you look closely, every page has a story of the Lake District. Even though we’ve only used it on a couple of walls in some of the smaller bedrooms, it adds real personality.”
Local character
“To minimise the environmental impact of the refit, we sourced 80% of the furniture from local antique shops – mostly in Penrith, just ten minutes down the road,” she says.
From artworks to 100-year-old chairs, each vintage piece is imbued with memory and character, creating an authentically laid-back and lived-in ambience – where children, dogs and hiking boots are welcome.
“It’s inspiring to think of the history in some of these pieces,” says Gillian. “We don’t know where they’ve come from or what they were used for before, but that’s all part of the beauty.”
Antique hunting in the nearby area, Gillian made a host of new friends. “There was one guy who specialises in Persian rugs,” she recalls. “He was super interesting – he could tell you everything about these rugs: where they came from, who was in power at the time, why the colours and patterns were like they were, why there was a hole in it or why it was shaped unusually.”
Gillian and the team also enjoyed a rummage around a local furniture maker’s (unlit) barn: “He walked in with a head torch on, pulling out all these different treasures,” she laughs.
Though the sourcing and tracking process proved challenging, with pieces from various antiques vendors, auctions and bespoke makers all arriving at different times, it’s been an “exciting” journey, says Gillian.
Find out more, browse the menu and book rooms on The Brackenrigg Inn web page.
Eat at The Brackenrigg as part of our Head for the Fells 3-night, 3-restaurant break.
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