RH has officially made its way across the pond. After a string of successful outposts in the states, the company is now expanding globally via the unveiling of RH England.
The brand has long gravitated toward historic venues—consider its takeover of the historic Natural History Museum in Boston or its former Bethlehem Steel Building store in San Francisco as just a pair of examples—and RH England is no different. This time around the company is really pulling out all the stops, firmly planting itself within a 17th-century, 73-acre estate in the Cotswolds.
Dubbed the Gallery at Historic Aynho Park, the manor was renovated in the early 19th century by famed architect Sir John Soane. Not so coincidentally, one of Aynho’s many experiential offerings is an exhibition dedicated to Soane’s life and work, created in partnership with the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London.
Other attractions include, of course, restaurants—a staple in RH’s retail catalog, with preexisting offerings ranging from rooftop burgers in New York City to wagyu ribeye in San Francisco. RH England counts two eateries at opening: the Orangery, a live-fire concept dressed in Calacatta gold marble and Italian merino wool velvet, and the Loggia, an outdoor venue dotted with French limestone fountains. A third option, an American bistro dubbed the Conservatory, is set to open this fall.
Visitors can also visit Aynho’s tearoom, wine lounge, or take in the views of the region’s pastoral surroundings, which include herds of white deer. RH’s contemporary furnishings, meanwhile, are juxtaposed not only by the building’s historic architecture, but also by an on-site design library that brings together a wide range of vintage tomes. Among the more notable books in this considerable collection is a rare first-edition translation of Vitruvius.
And RH England is only the beginning. The brand plans to further expand beyond the United States into international markets, so expect its signature blend of hospitality and retail to soon emerge elsewhere.
Associate Market Editor
Helena Madden is ELLE DECOR’s associate market editor, and covers all things product and trend, from flatware and furnishings to kitchen and bath. She previously worked as a staff writer at Robb Report, where she covered luxury news with a focus on interior design.