INTRODUCING THE CAST IRON BATH COMPANY

Discovering new brands is something I pride myself on, especially brands flying the flag for British manufacturing. There's nothing quite like buying a product and being able to know exactly where and how it was made. Which is why I became a fan of bathroom specialist The Cast Iron Bathroom Company before I'd even met the team behind the brand. 

I was keen to discover more about the interiors company, and with a showroom in both York and London, it meant I could pop on the train from Leeds and be there in less than half an hour. Selling a blend of own-branded goods, a collection which launched last year, and quality brands such as Imperial, Silverdale and Perrin & Rowe, the ethos behind The Cast Iron Bath Company remains today as it did when it was first established – to offer stylish yet affordable luxury. 

There are some places you walk in and don't really get a feel for the brand, and then there are others which capture you as soon as you walk through the door. The latter was The Cast Iron Bath Company. In a showroom flooded with natural light thanks to a huge skylight, this place is basically interior heaven. 

Transforming the traditional listed building into what it is today was no mean feat, but by working with interior and fashion designer Ann Louise Roswald, the space has the perfect blend of original features and modern design details - I mean just look at the gold 1920's French inspired lights below, often found in brassiere bathrooms, and sourced from North Carolina in the US.

There are no specific rooms sets which you traditionally see in bathroom showrooms, allowing the customer to design and decide for themselves how to create their dream space. By placing the products side by side, it also allows the customer to compare every style.

I think the thing that struck me the most about The Cast Iron Bath Company is that it offers so much more than baths. From taps to tiles, sanitaryware to shower heads, the company really is a one stop shop for stylish and traditional bathroom design. 

Founded in 2008 by architectural historian Lee Hunwicks to produce baths inspired by 19th century French and English designs, the latest collection from the brand is the largest range on offer in the country and has expanded to include contemporary designs in copper and cast iron.

It's obvious to see from the offset that at the heart of The Cast Iron Bath Company lies traditional craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail and customer service which excels. The York showroom, for example, is managed by a team who not only have knowledge of each and every product, but also the knowledge in the plumbing and fitting of each piece. There's also a payable white glove service, in which your product will be delivered to the very room you need it installing in - and when a bath can weigh up to 180 kg's, something like this really is going that extra mile for the customer. 

A particular highlight for me was the copper La Rochelle Cast Iron Bateau bath, which draws its inspiration from the decadence of 19th Century France. The hand finished copper exterior really is a show stopper, and it's no surprise that many pieces from The Cast Iron Bath Company's own label have been featured in films such as PAN and TV series The Night Manager, as well as hotels such Soho Hotel, Brocco on the Park and Pale Hall Hotel.

From the eclectic mix of tastes such as the industrial feel steel girders, loft style design inspiration and warm homely spaces, the showroom works in perfect harmony with what the brand represents - friendly, honest and first class customer service, something often lost with big corporate chains if I'm being frank.

Would I recommend visiting The Cast Iron Bath Company? Absolutely. Everything from picking colours to customise your bath from the Farrow & Ball colour chart to the expert advice on hand really does create much more of a personal experience when you’re planning your five-star hotel inspired bathroom.

You can find The Cast Iron Bath Company York showroom located at No.9 Colliergate, YO1 8BP. The London showroom, meanwhile, can be found at 165 Upper Street, N1 1US.

*Partnered post in collaboration with The Cast Iron Bath Company. As always thoughts and views are my own.