Ely Cathedral stands triumphant over the vast fen fields. It is one of the most magnificent cathedrals in England. It sits opposite Ely’s leading boutique hotel Poets House. Ely is considered the second smallest city in England but visitors can easily explore the entire city on foot.
One of the first buildings visitors notice is the famous Cathedral which dominates the skyline. Lately, Ely has seen many Hollywood actors descent on the city to film inside the Cathedral. Most recently Marion Cotillard and Jeremy Irons were spotted here, in the past Al Pacino has also been filmed in Ely.
Poets House is located just 17 miles from Cambridge and 5 minutes by taxi or a pleasant 15 minute walk from Ely train station with direct, regular train services, to London Kings Cross. Poets House is ideal for pleasure and business and is also home to a dedicated events space which can host up to 70 people.
Accommodation
Poets House Hotel re-launched this November under new owners and is home to just 21 bedrooms including eight master suites. The hotel’s design is contemporary and each bedroom offers large bathrooms with copper bathtubs positioned in many bedrooms. The black, white and copper colours contrast with the surrounding buildings seen through the large bedroom windows.
Oliver Cromwell was Ely’s most famous resident. Visitors can visit the former Cromwell house which has been redesigned to showcase what 17th Century domestic life would have been like. The house is opposite Poets House Hotel.
Dining & Drinking
Poets House is home to a street facing restaurant, ‘The Dining Room’, serving both traditional and modern British dishes and a modern cocktail bar, ‘The Study’, facing the hotel’s courtyard. Originally consisting of three Grade-II-listed properties of the early 1900s and the home of a renowned local author, today Poets House is a stylish luxury hotel with ‘The Study’ bar at the heart of the hotel.
Daniel Perjesi has been appointed as Head Chef at Poets House Hotel. Daniel will oversee both the 40 covers restaurant and the ‘The Study’ bar which offers lunch and afternoon tea daily. Daniel’s menus focus on both traditional and modern British dishes. He is a fan of seasonal produce and works with local suppliers.
Daniel joins from the two AA Rosette The Crown in Woodbridge where he was Head Chef. Prior to that he was also Head Chef at the two AA Rosette The Gallivant Hotel. Daniel also went from Sous Chef to Head Chef at The Hambrough Hotel on the Isle of Wight which held three AA Rosettes. Daniel’s career started in London including being Senior Chef de Partie at the five red star The Capital Restaurant in Knightsbridge.
Surrounding Area
Ely’s waterside offers visitors boat trips along the River Great Ouse. For those wishing to explore the outdoors further, East Cambridgeshire’s unspoilt countryside awaits. The peat-black Fens are criss-crossed by rivers. Whilst in Ely visitors can also explore the Stained Glass Museum located within Ely Cathedral. Here visitors will see a display of over 100 original stained glass panels dating from the early 13th century to the present.
Address: 40 St Mary’s St, Ely CB7 4EY / 01353 887777
