The Background

Nestled near the historic town of Windsor, The Runnymede on Thames Hotel is known for its classic style and picturesque views of the River Thames. Once a popular choice for business trips and meetings, the hotel has undergone a significant transformation. In late 2023, Warner Leisure Hotels—rapidly becoming the UK’s top choice for adult-only breaks—acquired the property. With its goal to offer the same countryside relaxation that its other venues provide, while also offering easy access to London, Warner Leisure Hotels embarked on a multi-million-pound refurbishment of The Runnymede in 2024.

The Task

The 250-room hotel was set to undergo a full refit, transforming from a business-focused venue to a luxurious, adult-only destination complete with a spa, multiple restaurants, and an entertainment theatre. Having already worked with Warner Leisure Hotels on several projects, including the award-winning Heythrop Hall, Contract Furniture Group was initially contracted to refurbish the bedrooms, including the design of 25 newly-built rooms. However, after delivering a standout sample room, we were invited to extend our work to the hotel’s public spaces, including its restaurants, bars, and entertainment areas—specifically the Market Kitchen, Brasserie32, and Live Lounge.

For this extensive project, Contract Furniture Group collaborated closely with Virserius Studio, a renowned interior design firm based in New York. From the initial concept through to execution, our team worked hand-in-hand with the designers to bring their vision to life over the course of 11 months.

The Work

The design theme for the hotel was a glamorous 1970s studio vibe, with bold patterns, rich velvet fabrics, and gold accents. To align with this vision, we produced bespoke loose furniture for the Market Kitchen, Brasserie32 Bar & Restaurant, and Live Lounge. By blending our expertise in sourcing design-led furniture with our in-house manufacturing capabilities, we were able to meet the very specific style requirements. We provided a wide range of custom upholstered furniture, including our Alice and Bergen Lounge Chairs, which now add a touch of retro elegance to the Live Lounge Theatre.

The Brasserie32 features our Ambrosia Side Chairs, each complete with gold-tipped feet, adding a stylish flourish to the setting. Marble quartz tabletops were chosen to elevate the luxurious feel, while our Zeus and Atlas table bases with gold finishes contributed to the overall opulence. For more casual dining areas, we supplied a mix of durable laminate table tops paired with Aldeburgh Table Bases.

One of the key services we provided was our Refresh, Rejuvenate, Refurbish offering. The hotel had several pieces of loose furniture that were still in excellent condition but in need of an update. We restored these items by reupholstering them in commercial-grade fabrics and refinishing the frames to give them new life. This service also extended to the fixed seating in the Market Kitchen, where we refreshed the original pieces to match the new design aesthetic.

In addition to furniture, we also provided bespoke joinery services. Our team crafted custom wall cladding for the Holiday Hub, as well as the lobby desks, topped with luxurious marble finishes.

The Result

The Runnymede Hotel's grand reopening in late September was a resounding success. With Warner Leisure Hotels' vision and our furniture expertise, the hotel has been repositioned as a stylish adult-only retreat, offering a sophisticated atmosphere where guests can unwind and enjoy the stunning riverside setting.

The revamped spaces are not only aesthetically striking but have also been designed to optimise the hotel's flow and create new revenue opportunities. Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with returning customers raving about the transformation and new guests discovering the rejuvenated venue. The collaboration between Warner Leisure Hotels, Virserius Studio, and Contract Furniture Group has turned The Runnymede into a standout destination in Warner’s portfolio—an adult-only escape that beautifully combines style, comfort, and functionality.