Flood-hit Surrey hotel reopens after multi-million pound refurbishment

A Surrey hotel that has been closed for nine months after being flooded on Christmas Eve has re-opened following a multi-million pound refurbishment.

Located at the foot of the hill that reached a global audience during the London 212 Olympics road cycle race, the 57-bedroom Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge hotel, near Dorking, has relaunched with a locally inspired interior.

Owned by the Moorfield Group, the hotel is operated by French hotel group Accor under its mid-market, non-standardised brand, Mercure.

It has become only the second Mercure hotel in the UK, alongside its London Bridge hotel, to introduce a new lobby concept, with the original reception desk replaced by an oak table where staff informally welcome guests.

Locally inspired design touches include bespoke chairs with a fabric featuring the poetry of John Keats, a one-time guest; an oversized quote on the restaurant wall referring to a picnic on Box Hill, which appeared in Jane Austen's Emma; and a bronze statue of the Olympic cyclists.

The hotel features the Emlyn restaurant, which previously held two-AA-rosettes; the Tithe Barn function room, which was built from the timbers taken from the galleons of the Spanish Armada; and an outdoor swimming pool.

Jonathan Sheard, senior vice-president operations, luxury, upscale and midscale hotels, Accor UK & Ireland, said, "This part of the country is peppered with historic coaching inns and from the outside that is what you might expect at Mercure Box Hill Burford Bridge. But step inside and guests are going to discover a whole experience, from the beautiful heated lido and landscaped gardens to the subtle literary touches in our new lobby area, all with the Mercure welcome.

Hotels suffer hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost business due to bad weather >>

Accor to operate 24 hotels for Moorfield Group until 2032 >>