2021’s hottest new hotels #LONDON
10 of the hottest hotels hitting the glittering streets of London this year. For your pleasure.
NOMAD, COVENT GARDEN
NoMad know their onions, so they weren’t going to schtump for any old pile of bricks for their first European hotel. Enter Bow Street’s Magistrates’ Court, that rambunctious Grade II-listed 19th century former court-cum-clink in Covent Garden that couldn’t be handier for the Royal Opera House. The interiors are gorgeous writ large, but not too fancy that it gets all weird. Classy, pinch of quirk, the sort of place you’d live in given half the chance… know-what-we-mean? Throw in 91 rooms, an all-day showstopper restaurant, its own pub, a subterranean bar that has our name all over it and The Library where you can devour all those yummy, steamy novels (serves cocktails too, fyi) and NoMad might just be the most luscious addition to London’s hotel scene this year. And we’ll eat our bonnet if you disagree. Seriously, whole bonnet.
Opening spring 2021
thenomadhotel.com/london
THE LONDONER, LEICESTER SQUARE
Leicester Square, which you may know from such classics as The LEGO Store, M&Ms World and Maison du Mezza (we’ll be the judge of that) has never really pulled up its socks when it comes to hotels. Sure, there’s the glitz ‘n’ spritz of the W and that Radisson Blu in the corner’s nice if you like that sort of thing, but there’s never been a ‘now we’re talking!’ superstar address. Until, that is *checks notes* now! They’re calling it the ‘world’s first super boutique hotel’, all 16 storeys, 350 rooms, six concept eateries, two private screening rooms and very blingy ballroom of it. It’s all sustainable, thank-you-please, and Yabu Pushelberg’s the one you should be sending flowers for making it all pretty. And the two-storey Tower Penthouse will come in handy once you’ve scoffed all the Quavers down that glittering film prem. The Londoner? Now we’re talking!
Opening spring 2021
thelondoner.com
KINGSLAND LOCKE, DALSTON
We love a Locke. Don’t you? Sitting pretty at that magic spot where serviced apartment meets boutique hotel, this revolutionary hospitality brand has totally nailed the flexible living vibe for the smarty-pants about town. Pitching up in only the nattiest neighbourhoods, Locke create design-led hubs of culture, covering food and drink and co-working and working-out and hanging-out, then stick a whole bunch of hi-spec hotel-rooms-and-then-some up top. Pitch up for a day, a night, a weekend of me-me-me or a whole month of easy living, and the prices are remarkably penny price-wise for a schtick that is so urbane and, well, hip. And we promised we wouldn’t use the word ‘hip’. And after doing their thing in Edinburgh, Manchester and various places in London including the recently-opened Bermonds Locke, they’re now coming to London’s swinging Dalston. This one has its own micro-brewery and gin distillery. Oh hello.
Opening Spring 2021
lockeliving.com
PAN PACIFIC LONDON, THE CITY
All that dosh and ne’er a shiny hotel to spend it in? Despite the blingy jungle that is London’s glittering City, the hotels in this neck of the woods have never really matched up to the live fast, spend even faster bonfire of the vanities that is the Square Mile. Which is why Pan Pacific Hotels’ first European showpiece is ruffling all the right feathers. They’re still putting the finishing wows to this towering ode to hospitality right opposite Liverpool Street Station, but you’ll be getting 43 storeys of bronze and bravado, a whole floor dedicated to wellness including an 18-metre infinity pool, 237 rooms and 160 private residences, not one, not two, not three, OK we’ve lost count of how many restaurants and bars but lots, and all made smart for town by design kings Yabu Pushelberg. Oh, and Cherish Finden, off-of Bake Off: The Professionals, has been nabbed from The Langham and will be knocking out all the sweet stuff. Sweet!
Opening Spring 2021
panpacific.com
THE MAYFAIR TOWNHOUSE, MAYFAIR
We had a peek of this swathe of handsome on Half Moon Street back in December when it waved a brief, dandy hello before the powers of the ‘Vid forced a quick retreat, but we can wait till the spring, right? The sister hotel to Clivedon House has taken over a row of 15 listed Georgian townhouses dating back to 1730, and filled them with whimsical suites, all-day dining concept The Club Room, The Dandy Bar that’s all Victorian theatrics and behind-the-curtain hedonism, and a collection of art curated by Minda Dowling. All wrapped up in very British wit, folly and knowing nods to the literary alumni who lived and quaffed in Half Moon Street’s fabled pads, including Oscar Wilde, Siegfried Sassoon, Robbie Ross and P.G. Wodehouse. So many names we’re going to need a dustpan and brush.
Opening Spring 2021
themayfairtownhouse.com
THE CARLTON TOWER JUMEIRAH, KNIGHTSBRIDGE
As zhuzhes go, this one’s beyond. We’re talking 100 million of Her Majesty’s finest pounds splashed on a top-to-toe nip, tuck and pluck of one of Knightbridge’s swishiest addresses. The design’s gone all heritage meets contemporary, with new bar and dining concepts all over the shop including a theatre kitchen for when you really want to show off, the new Talise Spa featuring one of London’s dishiest hotel pools, an all-day lobby lounge with its ‘cake-o-clock’ afternoon tea concept plus access to the private enclave that is Cadogan Gardens and its private tennis courts, which ain’t half ooh-la-la for a city hotel.
Opening early 2021
jumeirah.com
MONDRIAN, SHOREDITCH
Having made quite the splash on the South Bank then going AWOL on our back bottoms, Mondrian is back-back-back and taking over what was The Curtain hotel in London’s glittering Shoreditch. As Europe’s flagship Mondrian, you’re getting 120 rooms-with-all-the-trimmings, a tip-top return of The Rumpus Room up on the roof, plus Michelin-enabler Dani García’s first London restaurant.
Opening early 2021
sbe.com
BEAVERBROOK TOWNHOUSE, CHELSEA
London does good townhouse. You should see ours! And Beaverbrook, off-of that quintessentially English country retreat over in Surrey, is getting in on the action on Sloane Street, taking over two Grade II-listed Georgian piles and restoring them to the tune of £25million. With just 14 suites, a 60-cover Japanese restaurant and bar, and interiors inspired by 19th century artist Hokusai, this will be one of the rinkiest and dinkiest addresses in Chelsea’s exclusive Cadogan estate.
Opening summer 2021
beaverbrook.co.uk
THE BROADWICK, SOHO
This will be the first hotel designed, top to bottom and right back again, by Martin Brudnizki, which is quite the thing. Inspired by Soho’s eccentric razzle and dazzle, there’ll be 57 residential-style guestrooms, nine suites, one showstopper penthouse, a rooftop cocktail bar, plus, quite the coup, Jamie Poulton and Ed Bains - off-of the legendary Randall & Aubin over on Brewer Street - will be doing their thing at the street-level Italian restaurant. Bring, it, on.
THE APARTMENTS BY 11 CADOGAN GARDENS, CHELSEA
As hotel additions go, this lot takes the Toffolossus biscuit and totally runs with it. A tip top restoration of a six-storey townhouse, each floor home to a glorious apartment ripe for extended stays in one of the swishiest ‘hoods in town, all with access to the full hotel services of 11 Cadogan Gardens, who know good opulence. It’s what is known in the business as the best of both worlds, only the fanciest worlds seeing as you ask.
Opening spring 2021
11cadogangardens.com
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