Uncle Charlie’s timeless addition

A focus for many visitors to Windermere’s Broadoaks Hotel is the fabulous Music Room. However, few realise that this was something of an ‘afterthought’ and not part of the original building.

Constructed in 1904, some fifty years after the rest of the house, the Music Room was the design of one ‘Uncle Charlie’, a Victorian businessman and ardent music enthusiast. It was he who created the barrel-vaulted ceiling from which the music from the small stage would resonate around the entire room.

And the smaller-sized Bechstein piano on the stage? Well, this was also a bespoke commission, specially designed to suit the space available and for the sound it would give in this intimate space.

The Music Room has also enjoyed more than a passing brush with fame when Broadoaks was still a private country house. Hired by none other than Paul McCartney and a number of The Beatles, they were accompanied by Mick Jagger and made the trip to Cumbria where they enjoyed a two week party, most of which spent ‘jamming on the terrace’.

Today the Music Room is very much at the heart of Broadoaks and since 1995 has been used as a memorable venue for weddings and ceremonies, as well as a party venue to rival any other.