In the village of Adelboden in the Bernese Alps – once the site of the world’s first organised ski trip, thanks to a group of tweed-clad Eton schoolboys – Welsh brothers Grant and Craig Maunder are quietly writing a new chapter in Swiss hospitality with their latest hotel.
The focus here isn’t on sport (though the Ski World Cup is hosted each January), but on contemporary mountain design and a reimagined version of laidback luxury. At the quiet end of the village, The Brecon sits discreetly: a restored traditional timber chalet, restrained and beautiful. The Maunder brothers, who also own The Cambrian hotel, a member of Design Hotels, at the opposite end of the village, have, in this second act, created a more grown-up, deliberately low-profile retreat.
With just 18 rooms and four suites, The Brecon is a celebration of design and an easy-going, homestyle philosophy. Interiors are by the cool Amsterdam design studio Nicemakers, best known for their work at The Hoxton, Amsterdam and The Plesman in The Hague. The aesthetic is modern Alpine chic meets mid-century style, full of relaxed warmth.
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The results are tactile and calming: coffered timber ceilings, shaggy wool rugs, and soft lighting that pools around the communal living and dining spaces, the breakfast room with open kitchen is light, bright with marble and timber finishes. Walls are in muted tones, both in shared areas and guest rooms, while the flooring – inside and out – is laid with crazy-paved Welsh slate, installed by a craftsman brought over from Wales.
Grant Maunder’s wife, the American artist and ceramicist Andrea Anderson, has hand-thrown over 950 pieces of pottery used throughout the hotel. ‘I wanted it to feel like a mid-century clubhouse,’ explains Maunder. ‘Less of a hotel, more like a place you want to live in. It should feel like you’ve been invited to stay with very generous friends.’ And it does. Guests are encouraged to relax in the living room on one of the sofas or lounge chairs – a mix of vintage finds from Belgium, France, and Italy, alongside new pieces from Hay, &Tradition, Vitra and Artilleriet. The blend of ceiling, freestanding and wall-mounted lighting is by Mullan Lighting, Contain, Huey Lighting and Menu.
With a focus on elegant home-style comfort, The Brecon is all-inclusive (and adult-only), meaning guests never need to sign for any of the excellent seasonal food or drinks – the cocktails are particularly good.
Art throughout is curated by Amsterdam’s Bisou Gallery, which also supplied a selection of design and culture-led books and magazines. A custom Swiss-made fireplace, with handmade glazed tiles and a glass façade, anchors the room, while a cosy corner banquette next to the help-yourself bar is already a guest favourite.
Guest rooms feel deliciously low-key and intimate. The earthy palette continues upstairs. There’s bespoke joinery, comfortable beds with custom headboards by Nicemakers, and a soft layering of materials: Melin Tregwynt throws, linen curtains by A Room Fellow and ultra-soft rugs by Gancedo. There are pleasingly no televisions to be found here, just floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies framing the peaks and the magnificent Engstligen waterfall. Freestanding minibars by Soho Home reinforce the hotel’s self-serve spirit. Ensuite bathrooms are immaculate with tiles by Cottoceramix and all are stocked with Aesop products. The Mountain Loft Suite spans two levels, with a particularly cosy attic bedroom.
On the hotel’s first floor is the spa, all natural stone, warm timber, and soft neutrals: a steam room with one-way glass offers mountain views, a walnut-lined sauna, and a treatment room for post-ski or post-hike massages. Beyond the relaxation space lies a heated outdoor plunge pool and terrace – an ideal spot for sundown cocktails in warmer months. From £780 per room, thebrecon.com
