Words by Julia Freemantle.
One Hundred Shoreditch: the cool crowd
One Hundred Shoreditch, the new offering from Lore Group, was designed by Creative Director Jacu Strauss to reflect the evolution of the area over the last decade – from gritty urban neighbourhood to thriving cultural and culinary district.
The clean, calm design of the 258 rooms offers peaceful respite from the busy streets below. Light tones are offset by accents of colour via contemporary art, and a curated mix of vintage and bespoke pieces lend character.
The modern minimalism of the rooms is intended to reflect the area’s growing sophistication, which is countered by vibrant communal spaces that acknowledge the neighbourhood’s youthful and social energy. One Hundred Shoreditch offers a few different spaces to dine and drink. In the basement, the Seed Library is a laid-back bar where the drinks are designed around heritage ingredients.
The Rooftop is a lush, blush-tinted deck with a panorama of East London, while The Lobby Bar acts as the hotel’s living room – a comfortable cosy space to pull up a chair. The ultimate hybrid work/play venue, One Hundred Shoreditch is also home to five meeting and events spaces suitable for any occasions, with the largest surrounded by floor to ceiling glass and spectacular views of the skyline.
The Other House: the residential disruptor
Bringing apartment-style living together with hotel services and member’s club perks, The Other House, conveniently located in South Kensington is a new breed of hotel that bridges residential and hospitality and is designed to be fully customisable to your unique needs.
Over 200 Club Flats (in various configurations) range from studio-style flats to three bedrooms and comprise a living area, kitchen/diner spaces, bedroom and bathroom. A rich and layered aesthetic curated by The Other House and London Design House, Bergman – woven together with wallpapers, intricate metalwork, and fabrics from British textile and furniture houses (think weeds, velvets and wool), and deep gem tones (blues, greens, gold and burgundy) – come together in a contemporary and tongue-in-cheek take on tradition.
Its Private Club facilities – open and only accessible to residents and local members – include meeting and dining rooms, two bars, a screening room and extensive wellness facilities (including a vitality pool, state-of-the-art gym and wellbeing studios). All-day brasserie The Other Kitchen, and cocktail bar, The Owl and Monkey, as well as The Library, are all open to the public.
The Twenty Two: join the club
Described as a hideaway for the ‘creative and curious’, The Twenty Two’s restrained façade – an elegant Edwardian in Mayfair – belies a dynamic approach to hospitality built around a cutting-edge cultural programme.
A stay affords guests an instant ‘in’ to the city’s arts and social scene via temporary membership to The Twenty Two’s private member’s club. This comes with perks like wellness workshops with cult brands, talks with fashion experts and private previews with leading galleries.
The 31 studios, suites and manor rooms (and a one-bedroom Mews House) marry traditional opulence with contemporary touches, the French-meets-English mashup giving them an identity all their own. Custom pieces and renowned design brands (Pierre Frey wallpaper, Tyson London chandeliers, Designers Guild fabric) emphasise the hotel’s commitment to artisanal craft. This extends beyond the design – down to own-brand spirits and artisan kombucha in the extremely well-appointed mini bars.
The Club’s four distinct spaces all cater to guests’ changing needs throughout the day – work, play, eat. While The Restaurant (also open to the public) serves sophisticated fare in an elegant powder-blue dining room. The best part – despite all its sophistication, it’s ultra-welcoming courtesy of the warm staff and sense of intimacy.
Ham Yard Residences: creative by design
With creativity built into the fabric of the company (it was founded by interior designer Kit Kemp and her husband Tim), Firmdale’s pioneering reputation is testament to the integral relationship between design and hospitality. With 10 hotels across London and New York, spanning cosy townhouses and large urban establishments, the common thread is their ever-evolving take on modern English style (and the group constantly makes updates to each hotel).
The Ham Yard Residences, part of Ham Yard Hotel in the hub of Soho, offer the ultimate long-stay option for guests. Expansive, layered, fully serviced, and individually designed (with the option to even tweak elements to a guest’s liking), these spaces are as comfortable as any beautiful home, and with features like floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious marble bathrooms, a wood-burning fireplace, sleek Boffi kitchen – even a terrace with a view – are infinitely more luxurious than most.
Residents enjoy the seclusion and comfort of a home, but the services of the hotel – restaurant, bar, spa, gym, theatre, roof garden, private event rooms and bowling alley. And with a newspaper of your choice delivered to your door daily, the inside track on what’s on in your vicinity, and the hotel’s own cultural calendar of events, you’ll feel plugged in from day one.
