Case Studies
The Club by Bamford
Client Bamford
Sector Hospitality / Spa and Leisure
Location Gloucestershire
The Club by Bamford is a luxury members club on Daylesford’s farm in Gloucestershire. Part of the Bamford Collection – a group of consciously-minded lifestyle brands, The Club creates a nourishing environment for fitness and wellness amid 3,500 acres of organic farmland.
Members can swim, train, dine and unwind, with facilities including an indoor 25-metre swimming pool, gym with in-house personal trainers, padel courts, sauna and steam rooms, studios, and therapy rooms.
Sustainability, craftsmanship and artisan skills were key to developing this 360-degree wellness experience. Under principal contractor, Montrose Group, the building is constructed using local resources – a recyclable steel frame, FSC-certified timber, natural fleece insulation, and Cotswold stone.
Wherever possible, local craftspeople, construction teams, and reclaimed materials have been used to reduce the environmental impact of The Club and reinforce Bamford’s commitment to championing the work of artisans. Winthill Engineering is one such company – a team of passionate designers, engineers, and fabricators with the skill to create extraordinary bespoke metalwork.
As a preferred supplier, Winthill Engineering was tasked with producing a range of architectural and practical metal items and features for the luxury members club, most notably a sunken pool lounger and a double-sided statement fireplace.
Sunken pool loungers
The outdoor warm plunge pool has panoramic views across the orchards, and while members may admire the vista from a poolside lounger or chair, Bamford wanted to dial up the relaxation with a curved sunken pool lounger.
The brief was challenging – the lounger must balance functionality with aesthetics, comfort and safety. It must also feel inviting and natural while making a statement. The result: Winthill designed and installed an ergonomic 3 metre wide sunk pool lounger made from 316 stainless steel with a mirror finish.
Comfort and ergonomics
The first challenge was creating a curve that mimics the body’s natural shape and is intentionally designed for relaxation. This meant incorporating different contours for the back, legs and neck. Of course, everybody is different, so height was the critical factor.
Measuring down from the water level, Winthill fine tuned the design to ensure the curves provide lumber and neck support without the individual sitting too high or too low in the water. To achieve this, and accommodate long-term lounging, the two side panels were laser cut to create the shape with each tube then sitting in an individual slot.
Functionality and stability
For comfort and safety, stability was key. Winthill engineered the lounger with two drilled holes in every tube, one bottom left and another, top right: one to let the water in and the other to let the air out, thus filling the lounger with water. This approach ensures the lounger remains sunken and isn’t at risk of floating, without the need for unsightly weights.
Diving down
Due to restrictions the lounger was fabricated in two halves. This meant the Winthill installation team had to complete the installation underwater! First, each half was positioned in the empty pool, before filling the basin with water and waiting for each tube to fill up. Once the lounger was sunk and stable, the team had to bolt the two pieces together, diving under the water to fix from below – ensuring no fixings tarnished the lounger’s aesthetics or risked injury to pool users.
Double-sided fireplace
Away from the high-octane fitness areas, The Club has cosy, snug spaces inside, designed for unwinding alone or with friends. One such space boasts a statement double-sided fireplace surrounded by deep and luxurious seating, and tables crafted by local artisans.
To elevate the fireplace and contrast with the large-format, natural stone wall tiles, Winthill hand-picked sheets of raw steel selecting those with striking heat tint colouration to create a 4 metre high chimney feature, above and below the fire. Each sheet is orientated, so together they achieve the best effect.
Recessed shelving to the left of the fireplace is lined with the same raw steel and provides practical log storage and a dramatic backdrop for decorative items.
Extra details
Daylesford Farm is an extremely popular visitor destination – it is home to the flagship Daylesford Organic farmshop and Heritage House, an unforgettable event space. There are also five holiday cottages, including the original farmhouse for Daylesford Farm, just a stone’s throw away. Therefore, signage is vital for a positive visitor experience.
Winthill created two Corten steel light box signs laser cut with The Club logo to act as silent guides – providing clear wayfinding from the car park and reinforcing brand awareness at the entrance to The Club.
For safety and easy access, Winthill also fabricated and installed internal handrails made from raw mild steel with a waxed finish. Outside, galvanised mild steel rails with stainless tension wire delineate and divide spaces around the outdoor facilities.
Since opening, Winthill Engineering has supported The Club by Bamford with extra details – including custom-made stools and benches, and a new drainage grate for the indoor swimming pool. By changing the orientation of the drainage slots, the design maximises water capture and helps mitigate the risk of poolside slips.
📸 credit: Bamford
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