The new Radisson Edwardian Guildford has now been open for a couple of weeks and I was lucky enough to get an exclusive sneak peek inside the hotel one day before it officially opened on September 29th when I also got to meet some of its friendly staff. 

I discovered a stylish new 4 star hotel with a sense of history, great design and a passion for good food.

It was the first time I'd witnessed the birth of a new hotel.  Builders put finishing touches to the public areas while cleaners added a bit of spit and polish. 

Staff scurried around making last-minute preparations and I even saw some of them doing a final test of the head chef's canapes and the head barman's cocktails. 

There was real excitement in the air.  I'd love to check up on the hotel 6 months, 1 year and even 2 years from now.

The first contemporary luxury offering among Guildford hotels and located right in the centre of the pretty market town, the Radisson Edwardian Guildford has caused quite a stir among local residents – and for good reason.  On entering, I was struck by its striking and yet subtle contemporary design, founded on a delicate interplay of strong colours, sleek furniture and spatterings of elegant artwork.

Much-loved author Lewis Carroll was inspired by the town in a lot of his writing and is buried in Guildford's cemetery on The Mount.  The hotel pays tribute to this aspect of the area's history with a subtle homage to the great man and his works throughout its public areas.  For example, there is a large reading booth with well-stocked bookshelves in the lobby and a whimsical staircase to nowhere just above and behind it.

The Lewis Carroll inspired reading booth and "staircase to nowhere" in the hotel lobby

Many locals are employed among the hotel staff - all of them eager to introduce visitors to the best that their town has to offer. 

Despite being less than 30 minutes by train from central London, Guildford is strangely off the mainstream London tourist's radar.  But it's one of the most charming places you could visit (without the sense of being "herded around" with the tourist crowds as you might experience in places like Windsor).

I met Tom and Louise at the concierge desk who were simply bursting with enthusiasm and keen to share their insider tips on the best daytrips, boutiques, attractions and woodland walks in the vicinity.

With 183 well-appointed rooms, the hotel is a good size but conveyed an individual "personality" as I walked around.  All rooms are generously-proportioned – even the hotel's smallest is 24 square metres – showing you get more for your buck here than in central London.  Besides the usual twin and double rooms (with proper king-size beds), there are also two deluxe suites and eight disabled-access rooms with accessible bathrooms.

The hotel is housed in a new-build, purpose-built property – meaning its rooms aren't shoehorned into awkwardly-shaped spaces as I've seen in some old buildings converted into hotels.  All its 18 twin rooms, for example, are fully fit-for-purpose with a wider headboard.

The Radisson Edwardian Guildford also has a luxury spa, offering a serene little retreat in the centre of the town.  It'd be easy to while away hours in the stone oven sauna, aromatic crystal steam room, swimming pool and relaxation room, or indulging in a treatment from the extensive spa menu.

It's open to local residents too and has the potential to become one of the most popular spas in Surrey.  The hotel also has a fully-equipped gym.

The hotel's brand new luxury spa offers a range of spa treatments and facilities that would be the envy of any 5 star central London hotel

If you're looking to host a function or meeting, there are spacious meeting areas with state-of-the-art technology and free WiFi.

Any value-conscious company running the rule over top-notch Surrey conference venues (or just seeking a better deal than is typically obtained in central London or at airport hotels with bland surroundings) would be well-advised to keep this option on its shortlist before it is widely known.

The Radisson Edwardian Guildford's meeting facilities are impressive given its reasonable rates, partly since the cost of space is significantly lower than central London

But besides all the above, the hotel really stands out for its focus on food and drink.  The General Manager of the Radisson Edwardian Guildford was keen to stress that much thought has gone into its two restaurants: Relish and Market Kitchen.  The Head Chef told me the concept behind both was "hearty food and fun" – great dining without unnecessary airs and graces.

And they'll certainly need to deliver to keep up with the strong local competition – restaurants in Guildford are undergoing a renaissance and the town's culinary scene is a magnet drawing in savvy diners from all over Surrey and even the southern suburbs of London.

Relish serves impeccable "best of British" food, with many ingredients sourced from Guildford's famous farmer's market

Relish showcases top-quality British cuisine, with the majority of ingredients sourced from local suppliers.  It unpretentiously serves-up all our favourites, like fish and chips and all-day breakfasts, as well as some more creative takes on the classics.  And in Market Kitchen, tapas-style Mediterranean dishes are cooked in a special Spanish Josper oven – the Ferrari of barbecues – to ensure its meats are moreishly moist.

And the bar alongside Market Kitchen is set to become the spot where locals and guests come to play.  With a striking look, designer lighting, comfy seats and skilled mixologists executing an extensive cocktail list, it brings a bit of central London glamour to this vibrant and charming town.

I was impressed by my site visit and especially the enthusiasm of the staff.  It will be interesting to read the hotel's early TripAdvisor reviews to see how well it delivers on the back of its unique location and product.

Photo credits: London Hotels Insight photos, Radisson Edwardian Guildford.

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