If you’ve stayed with us before, you’ll recognise the building; ivy-covered, honey-coloured walls – the kind of place where things unfold, from birthdays to weddings.
Our new logo captures all of that. It’s a hand-drawn line illustration, full of detail but not too fussy – just like the way we do things at The Old Bridge. You’ll see the iconic shape of the hotel, its windows and chimneys, and its spot by the River Great Ouse.
We worked with lino print artist, Melissa Lhoirit, who understood we wanted movement and mood, but without shouting. Her work always feels “with life” – and that’s exactly what we hoped to bring to this piece. There’s texture, craftsmanship, and a kind of stillness that draws you in.
Of course, the logo is simply a way of saying hello, but things don’t change inside;
The welcome at the front desk. The hum of the restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. A wine list that’s been thought about – then thought about again.
Meet the Artist Behind the lines
“You need to be like a chameleon,” Melissa told us, when asking about the life of an artist.
Lhoirit brings versatility, movement, and a sense of life to her prints. Her favourite subjects are people and places with atmosphere – scenes that feel animated, like they might shift or move in the wind.
She’s been in the creative industry since 2001, working as a graphic designer before falling in love with the hands-on nature of printmaking in 2019. Her journey has taken her from studying applied arts in France to learning traditional wood carving in America.
Today, Melissa works primarily in lino print. She’s drawn to the texture, physicality, and, most of all, the colour. Mixing inks and building gradients are her favourite parts of the process.
You might spot more of her work at Linton’s (near Cambridge) various open studios or on her Etsy shop. Melissa’s dream client? The Cambridge Botanic Garden. An ideal project, she says, especially if there’s freedom to keep things expressive and people-focused.
For those curious to try lino printing themselves, she recommends a visit to St Barnabas Press. Their offer flexible classes to try carving, inking, and discovering the magic of making something from nothing.
We’re proud to have Melissa’s lines at the heart of our new logo. Refined, but full of life – just the way we like things at The Old Bridge.
