REVIEW: THE WILLIAM INGLIS BY MGALLERY SOFITEL
I’m a big fan of overnight getaways or even staycations – it saves you a lot of time, but gives you the much-needed break from everyday life like work, washing and all those other boring adulty-things we all have to do.
So, we decided to stay somewhat local – at least for Sydney – as Bondi-residents it’s far from the ‘bubble’, but exactly what we needed and only 50 mins drive away.
Heading 50 mins South-West of Sydney by car and you end up in Liverpool, NSW. However, we weren’t staying in the thick of it, actually, far from it.
We spend a night at the newly opened The William Inglis which is a boutique 5-star luxury hotel owned by Mgallery by Sofitel. It’s part of the new $140m precinct developed by thoroughbred horse sales company William Inglis & Son Ltd called Riverside Stables, AccorHotels is partnering with
this 5th generation family owned business. It’s located adjacent to the Warwick Farm racecourse.
Riverside Stables is the result of nine years of planning, with Inglis relocating their Sydney business, which has been situated at Randwick for a remarkable 100 years, to its new home at Warwick Farm. Named after the Inglis company’s figurehead and founder, William Inglis, the hotel will service the racing industry and clients, but is also be a major drawcard for regional tourism across both the corporate and leisure
sectors.
The Hotel:
The William Inglis Hotel will be the cornerstone of the new site and is drawing travellers from around the world. Celebrating Inglis’ racing and thoroughbred history, each of the 144 guest rooms has a unique theme and is named after one of the many champion racehorses sold through the sales rings. The biggest, on Level 8, is the Presidential Suite – named the Black Caviar Suite. Each guest room will be personalised to the champion racehorse it is named after, featuring an artistic painting of the winning
jockey silks, and an image or original artwork of the horse. In addition to this, the entrance to each room includes a replica of the original winner’s plaque from the Newmarket barns.
The rooms are beautifully designed, and has a large bathroom that’s perfect to relax in, complete with a bath for those (still cold) Spring nights.
The beds are large and comfy – not too soft, not too hard, but just perfect. And you have a blissful night’s sleep, waking up to a beautiful sunlight coming through the curtains, and revealing the race-track below you.
The Facilities:
The William Inglis Hotel offers guests a choice of world-class hospitality facilities including all day dining paddock-to-plate restaurant Newmarket Room. The menu focuses on robust food with rural soul but refined elegance. The restaurant was built in honour of Inglis’ Randwick home and one of its more famous elements, the Newmarket Room, where many a client spent time celebrating with friends.
Elements of the Newmarket site and the Inglis heritage are incorporated throughout, with an entire wall of the restaurant lined with the original Group 1-winner plaques that were featured on barn doors throughout the Newmarket complex. Along with this, the restaurant is decorated with photos of the original Newmarket site. Adjoining the restaurant is the beautiful al fresco dining area, Newmarket Gardens.
A stunning rooftop bar and pool deck takes pride of place atop the hotel. The Chiltern Pool Deck & Bar is the only pool in the world where you can relax on cabanas and sun loungers while overlooking 300 acres of greenery and watch the races from above. The bar serves cocktails and pool snacks for those sunny days.
The whisky lounge positioned on the mezzanine level of the hotel is named in honour of the year William Inglis and Son was founded. 1867 Lounge is a high-end whisky and wine bar, offering a sophisticated cocktail menu, whisky selection, specialised champagne list and bar snacks.
Heroic Café in the ground floor lobby provides gourmet coffee and an all-day café menu which is fast, fresh and wholesome, easy for you to grab if you’re on the go, or when you’re heading back home for the car-ride.
The Leisure Facilities:
A fully-equipped 24-hour gymnasium and luxurious day spa is located on level eight of the hotel.
The fitness centre has the latest gym equipment including a range of cardio and strength facilities, and the spa offers a variety of indulgent massages and beauty treatments.
The heated outdoor 20m pool is perfect to relax by or to go for a swim.
We absolutely loved our stay at The William Inglis, and we walked away feeling refreshed and renewed. We didn’t need to leave the hotel as we only stayed one night, allowing us to take full advantage of discovering the beauty in and around the hotel and just clock-off from every day life.
I highly recommend a visit, if you’re after a romantic get-away with your partner, but don’t want to spend a lot of money on travel or hotel.
Caroline xx
