Inside Chef & Brewer – our love for William Morris prints
It's no secret that we take pride in the appearance of our pubs. We like to maintain a nice balance of cosy, rustic charm and subtle elegance – and what better way to achieve that than with the addition of William Morris prints?
Yep, we're big fans of the Arts and Crafts Movement, and a swift visit to any of our pubs will prove that! From decorative cushions and curtains to feature walls, if it's not William Morris, it's William Morris-inspired patterns, featuring intricate floral motifs and rich colour palettes.
So, whether you're into your historic textiles or you just like visiting beautifully decorated pubs, come with us as we wax lyrical about our love for William Morris prints.
A brief introduction to William Morris
Not up to scratch on your Arts and Crafts knowledge? Allow us to don our textile tutor hats and give you a little crash course on the life and works of William Morris.
If you're not familiar with the name, you'll certainly be familiar with the prints; we've all seen The Strawberry Thief, whether we know its title or not. Created in 1883, this iconic print features birds stealing strawberries amidst a detailed floral pattern, quintessential of Morris's intricate, nature-inspired designs. But let's go back to the beginning.
Born in 1834, Walthamstow, William Morris is a designer, writer, poet and socialist activist best known for helping start the Arts and Crafts Movement, an international movement against Victorian industrialisation, focusing on traditional craftmanship and finding the beauty in everyday objects. Morris believed that art should be accessible to all, famously claiming, “I do not want art for a few; any more than education for a few; or freedom for a few.” – clearly a visionary thinker, before his time.
In 1861, Morris founded Morris & Co with a group of artist friends to produce handcrafted, high-quality homeware items. To this day, Morris & Co continue to produce items based on his original designs, some of which you'll find in our (rather tastefully decorated) Chef & Brewer pubs.
Why we love William Morris prints
Morris & Co products are still incredibly popular today, partly due to the resurgence of maximalist interior design. Yep, the "less is more" mindset is so yesterday, and we couldn't agree more. The addition of William Morris prints can make a space feel warmer, more organic and homely. They also evoke a sense of tradition and heritage, which is indeed very appropriate for our pubs, many of which are listed buildings with rich, storied histories.
All this to say, you probably know at least one person with a Strawberry Thief cushion in their home... and maybe that one person is your local Chef & Brewer pub.
What makes a Chef & Brewer pub?
We take interior design very seriously at Chef & Brewer. As we've already mentioned, many of our pubs are historic buildings with lots of character, so maintaining a sense of traditional charm is something we're pretty good at, even if we do say so ourselves. We design our pub spaces to be cosy, inviting, and easy on the eye, with interesting wall art, nods to local culture and rich, warm colours that make you feel right at home.
From William Morris art prints to the fabric on our bar stools, the Arts and Crafts Movement influences our interior decoration style hugely.
And hey, it's not all about the interior design. The atmosphere in our pubs is all about the sensory experience – we're talking roaring fireplaces, the smell of delicious pub fare and the sound of laughter and clinking glasses.
A few honourable mentions
Love the William Morris collection as much as you love a good pint of cask ale? Well, here are a couple of pubs you'll definitely want to visit if you find yourself nearby.
Tucked away a few miles outside of Northwich, you'll find the Blue Cap, a beautiful Chef & Brewer pub with bundles of unique character. Much like William Morris, the Blue Cap embraces nature and prides itself on being the perfect pitstop for dog walkers and countryside explorers. In fact, even the menus are decorated with William Morris patterns, as a reverent nod to his legacy. The Blue Cap says, "We believe that Morris's patterns truly embody everything we stand for as a pub."
William Morris was profoundly inspired by medieval art, architecture, and literature, which he viewed as a contrast to the heavily industrialised 19th-century world. If you're inclined to agree, you'll love the Green Man in Harlow, a charming Grade II listed pub, restaurant and hotel featuring Medieval-inspired murals in the dining area, plus plenty of William Morris prints throughout the pub and guestrooms. Stay the night or spend a sunny afternoon in the beer garden. With a range of delicious, traditional pub favourites on the menu, you'll be glad you did!
Another cosy, country-style pub that also happens to be a hotel with 30 comfortable guestrooms and a function room for special occasions, the Red Lion boasts a traditional atmosphere, with oak beams, open fires, and plenty of Arts and Crafts Movement-inspired textiles. Seeing as William Morris was heavily inspired by the changing seasons, why not follow suit and sample some delicious seasonal specials? All washed down with a tasty tipple or two, of course!
Explore the Arts and Crafts Movement with Chef & Brewer
So, there you have it, a little introduction to our favourite revolutionary textile designer. Sure, you could head to a William Morris gallery or Arts and Crafts exhibition, but head to a nearby Chef & Brewer pub and you can enjoy a refreshing pint plus a hearty pub meal while you scope out the interior design. Hope to see you soon!