The Parsonage’s Brand-new Terrace is ‘All About Yves’

Many of you know the story of the Parsonage Terrace, a beautiful open space that’s become a fixture in Oxford life since Jeremy acquired the Old Parsonage Hotel in 1989. The handsome stone manor house had previously been lodgings for university undergraduates (Oscar Wilde purportedly among them).

Back then, the terrace was just a grassy slope. Jeremy envisioned a walled haven for guests to enjoy “food, drink, and conversation.” After all the Old Parsonage was, and still is, snappily close to Oxford’s shops, museums and historic sights, yet feels like a hidden oasis in the city. Fast forward to today, and we’re thrilled to unveil a brand new look for the terrace, inspired by the vibrant energy of Marrakech and the iconic Jardin Majorelle created by fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent.

Freshly transformed, our revived terrace at Parsonage Grill is an al fresco dining space that now weaves exotic éclat through a traditional British setting. North African brightness and light climbing toward the Parsonage’s Headington stone façade and wisteria sets the tone for a little escapism in the heart of the city of Oxford.

See the Parsonage’s new terrace in photos…

Morocco meets Oxford

A guardian of Oxford hospitality since the 17th century, Old Parsonage Hotel is the city’s go-to for five-star accommodation, long breakfasts and lunches, afternoon tea, and classic British cuisine until late in the evening. While honouring these roots, the new-look Parsonage Grill terrace takes Jardin Majorelle as inspiration. The famous garden in Marrakech, where Yves Saint Laurent made his home until his death in 2008, remains a triumph of bold colours and Art Deco and Moorish-influenced design.

In a similar vein, we’ve created a captivating atmosphere with brilliant whites and brightness. Imagine this is Morocco as you take a seat with afternoon tea or ‘It’s All About Yves’ cocktail in hand, gently sweetened with St-Germain elderflower liqueur. The terracotta pots, painted reds, blues and yellows, and overflowing with cordylines, hostas, herbs, fatsias, rice paper plants and dramatic foliage, will transport you to distant shores in a beautifully private outdoor space.

Gone are the boxed planters and dark colours, while the teak furniture and reclaimed Yorkstone paving have been meticulously cleaned. In summer, you’ll gravitate toward the shaded tables or benches facing to the sun – stay after dusk for dinner and drinks to see how new lighting now accentuates the beauty of the hotel’s 17th-century stone walls. In cooler months, the canopies will provide shelter and heat while the food, chasing the seasons, will be warming.

As always, the Parsonage terrace is open from 7 am until 11 pm every day for breakfast, drinks, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Try our stylish new feature cocktail, ‘IT’S ALL ABOUT YVES’, to mark this creation.