Cape Cod is one of the most iconic travel destinations in the United States for Americana charm, whether it be the instantly-recognizable gable cottages or its choice location for presidential summer homes. (While many people are aware that President John F. Kennedy had a vacation retreat here, lesser known is that President Grover Cleveland also had a residence on the island to satisfy his love of fishing.)
But one of the most luxurious five-star properties on the New England island has elevated its offerings with a touch of old English charm in the former of a partnership with British label Barbour.
Located on the eastern edge of Cape Cod in East Harwich, the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club is extending its collaboration with Barbour with a lineup of seasonal programming, including an exclusive stay package from check-in to check-out. The fashion-forward partnership touches every aspect of the guest experience, from activities to retail to food and beverage offerings curated by local experts.
Among one of the most iconic British apparel brands, Barbour is best known for its waxed jackets and country apparel for men and women. And as we enter late fall to winter, there are few brands that are built for inclement, wet weather than one born and headquartered in England.
This season, Wequassett will offer a renewed “Field Guide” menu of activities that blend Barbour’s high-quality style and adventurous spirit with Wequassett’s ethos of high luxury service. Activities include jam and pickling-making classes, beer tastings with local brewers, clamming off Pleasant Bay (right outside of the property grounds), a hike along the Wequassett trail in the Harwich Conservation, and tours for seal watching, of the the local historical lighthouses, the Monomoy wildlife sanctuary, and cranberry bogs—a highlight on Massachusetts coastal islands, including both Cape Cod and Nantucket. Excursions will be led by industry experts and Wequassett staff.
Barbour will also be integrated into three different specialty drink and dinner experiences amplified by custom brand elements, from the logo to its signature tartan. Guests can experience a taste of Barbour at Twenty-Eight Atlantic through specially curated New England-inspired dishes, including salmon trout, sea scallops, and an English favorite for dessert: Eton Mess, a delicious (albeit messy, naturally) mixture of macerated berries with rosewater crunch and vanilla bean mousse.
Developed by Wequassett food and beverage director Rene Votteler to embody Barbour’s outdoor spirit, the signature “The Explorer” cocktail—made with The Macallan Double Cask whisky with fresh lemon juice, honey, angostura bitters, and a Barbour embossed lemon peel—is available to order at Thoreau’s, an intimate club-like bar at the resort with dark leather and suede accents serving tavern-style fare and craft cocktails. In addition, bourbon and whisk(e)y tastings inspired by the British brand will be offered as a pre or post-dinner activity at Thoreau’s.
Barbour apparel will also be prominent throughout the hotel, including the staff uniforms and of course for sale in the gift shop. But Wequassett has also refreshed its on-site borrowing closet in the front lobby. New this season to celebrate the Barbour Beaufort Jacket’s 40th Anniversary, a limited edition Beaufort Wax Jacket is available in the gift shop, and the Classic Beaufort Wax Jacket has been added to the Borrowing Closet, where guests can select from Barbour wax jackets and quilted vests as well as rainproof Wellington boots—all available for loan or purchase, stocked in men’s, women’s, and children’s sizes.
And starting in November, guests are invited to bring their old Barbour products they might no longer be using and drop them off at the “Barbour Re-Loved” station, which will be available near the front desk, allowing guests and locals to drop off their used Barbour jackets and in turn receive an $80 voucher to go towards a new Barbour purchase.
Daily rates in the fall vary, and the average starting rate for guest suites inclusive of the Barbour Field Guide Package starts around $925 per night.