Craft House client, The Curtain in Forbes "Hot right now..."
Our client, The Curtain, located in Shoreditch, London makes it to the Forbes list for hot new hotels in London!
Hot Right Now: The Eight New Hotels Causing a Stir in London
If last year was the year that London reached its culinary zenith - with a big-name restaurant seemingly throwing open its doors every minute, 2017 looks set to be the year that London reaches its hotel peak. Currently experiencing a flurry of new openings, here's where to hang your hat when in town:
- Nobu Shoreditch
You'll still have to wait a few months until Nobu Hotels opens its first European hotel (it's slated for June 2017), but when it does kick into action in Shoreditch (where else?), you can expect a mix of Eastern panache crossed with an edgy East London vibe. With 143 rooms and seven suites, the hotel will also offer a spa and, of course, a Nobu restaurant.
(Credit: Nobu Hotel)
Designed by Ron Arad Architects and Ben Adams Architects, interiors feature overhanging floor slabs and cantilevered steel beams as well as a 'pocket garden' which will be open to the public. Interiors have an urban and contemporary focus: black joinery, exposed concrete and stark white bathrooms, which will have custom-designed gold washbasins.
The restaurant, meanwhile, designed by Studio PCH, has a sleek wooden finish and is reached is a grand staircase. The dining room - big enough to seat 240 guests - is bathed in natural light from the five metre glass doors which lead out to the Nobu Terrace (available for private functions) and will offer many of Nobu’s timeless dishes, such as Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño.
2. Lalit, South Bank
Bringing Indian hospitality to London's burgeoning South Bank area, the new Lalit Hotel is found in a Grade II-listed building, once a Victorian school. Located near to Tower Bridge, the £50m renovation includes restoration of the timber panelling, vaulted ceiling and gallery in the Great Hall - now reinvented as the pan-Indian restaurant Baluchi.
The 70 bedrooms each feature a unique design - think free-standing carved screens and bedheads made from traditional fabrics. Pulling in guests will be the charming outside space, featuring dramatic topiary creations and Indian stone sculptures by the Parisian landscape artist Olivier Vecchierini.
An Indian bread-bar - the Nunnery will serve only breads from the subcontinent, such as roti and kulcha, matched with wines, while the subterranean spa will offer ayurvedic therapies, cool healing and yoga.
3. Dorsett City, Aldgate
Due to open next month (April 2017) is the second London hotel for Dorsett Hotels (the first is found in Shepherds Bush).
The Aldgate-based outpost will have 267 guestrooms and suites, a rooftop bar and 24-hour gym - and, as expected from its City location, a focus on business facilities.
It will also be the home to two West London eateries - Shikumen and VQ(Vingt-Quatre). Shikumen will offer innovative Asian inspired dishes and dim sum, while the vibrant VQ will be a hotspot for all-day dining and cocktails.
4. The Curtain Shoreditch
Already causing a flurry of anticipation is New York's latest import The Curtain, due to open in May, and another addition to Shoreditch's rich scene.
The latest vision from Michael Achenbaum – co-founder of the Gansevoort Hotel Group - The Curtain will have a signature rooftop restaurant and pool, Marcus Samuelsson’s first UK outpost of Red Rooster Harlem, an exclusive members club, and a live performance space.
(Credit: The Curtain)
Named after its location on Curtain Road, the $100 million project will reflect the vibrant art, design, and tech culture that Shoreditch is known for, while encompassing a modern industrial New York feel. Expect exposed brick walls, hardwood floors and modern lighting contrasted with custom-designed artwork by British photographer, Mick Rock.
Most exciting is the first UK outpost for chef Marcus Samuelsson. Renowned for his twist on classic American dishes, Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Shoreditch menu will celebrate the roots of American cuisine and Southern soul food.
(Credit: The Curtain) The rooftop pool
Upstairs, a Moroccan-style heated pool and all-day brasserie is found on the roof. The poolside restaurant and bar (LIDO) will have a retractable glass roof and all-day dining. A private screening room, Live Performance room (for secret gigs, DJs, acoustic performances and spoken word) and Billy's Bar for late-night gatherings completes the VERY cool offering.
thecurtain.com
5. Four Seasons London at 10 Trinity Square
Having opened its doors in January this year, the new Four Seasons Trinity Square is causing a flurry of excitement, not least because it has been carved out of one of the city's most pristine Grade II listed heritage buildings. Found near Tower Bridge, the building first opened in 1922 as the headquarters of the Port of London Authority and served as a hub for traders and sailors from across the world.
(Credit: Four Seasons) Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square
References to this maritime heritage can be spotted throughout - with carvings, crests and engravings paying homage to the history. The building was also the place where the inaugural reception of the United Nations General Assembly was held in 1946. The UN ballroom with its walnut panelling, original crystal chandeliers and ornate plasterwork is the hotel's showstopper.
Bedrooms are sophisticated with a pared-back luxe feel. But it's the public areas that give the wow factor. The hotel will be the home for the first London outpost of French chef Anne-Sophie Pic, currently the only female French chef to hold three Michelin Stars. La Dame de Pic brings her signature approach across the Channel, with crafted seasonal menus, and signature dishes, such as Hereford beef or Dorset crab prepared in the French style.
An expansive spa (with authentic hammam and 14m pool), an Asian eaterie with sushi bar and the stunning Rotunda bar (set beneath a spectacular art-deco style domed ceiling) completes the line-up.
6. The Henrietta Hotel, Covent Garden
Back in 2007, The Experimental Cocktail Club opened in Paris and made its mark on the global cocktail bar scene. Childhood friends Romée de Goriainoff, Pierre-Charles Cros and Olivier Bon, along with Xavier Padovani who became a partner in 2010, went on to open the Experimental Cocktail Club in London’s Chinatown in 2010 and the group now oversees 17 acclaimed cocktail bars, restaurants, wine bars and hotels across Paris, New York, Ibiza and London.
(Credit: Henrietta/Meilichzon) Quirky mix-up in the bedrooms (Credit: Henrietta / Meilichzon)
With an emphasis on authenticity, The Henrietta Hotel will be the first London hotel from the group, and is set to open by May. The boutique 18-bedroom townhouse has a lavish decor by Dorothée Meilichzon, a frequent collaborator with the Experimental Group, with a nod towards local inspiration.
“The hotel’s British architectural heritage was our biggest design inspiration for Henrietta Hotel. The surrounding architecture on Henrietta Street is varied across all the different buildings - each has different roof shapes and window ornamentations and we have tried to reflect this through various design details across the hotel,” says Dorothée Meilichzon.
Brass bedside lights and hand-made bed heads are mixed up with 70s retro armchairs, Terazzo shape carpets and Carrara marble skirting. Bathrooms are traditional and contemporary in style, with large mirrors and Dorothée’s signature fountain basins – two pieces of granite placed at 90°, inspired by the roof architecture of Henrietta Street - mixed with black and white octagonal floor tiles and cabochons.
At the heart of the hotel is Ollie Dabbous’ two-tiered restaurant - The Henrietta - situated on the ground floor and mezzanine, and is a tribute to the former garden of Covent Garden. Glass roofs, terracotta tiles and oak flooring give an organic feel and look up and you'll see a hand-painted mural of a tiger that fills the entire ceiling.
7. Mimi's Soho
Just opened on Frith Street in the heart of Soho, is this charmful-boutique offering by Lutz Strangemann, known for his cool Berlin hotels.
With 58 rooms, Mimi's Soho has a laid-back, boudoir feel with rooms varying from a Tiny Single (7m²) to a Mimi’s Lux (21m²). A strong design ethos mixed with a moderate price-tag is the appeal here. That's not to say stylish decor is skimped on: look for bold colours and natural materials, Frette linens, and marble and oak floors (with underfloor heating) giving a touch of luxury. Bathrooms are stylish and contemporary with marble and glass mosaics and rain showers.
On the ground floor is Henson’s Bar & Social which will no doubt become a Soho hub, changing from cosy meeting spot in the day into a vibrant cocktail bar in the evening. Spot the art from Andy Warhol, Matisse, Picasso and other artists from the owners' personal collection.
8. The Pilgrm, Paddington
When it opens later this summer, The Pilgrm aims to tear up the rule book when it comes to hotel procedure. Gone is the traditional lobby and reception desk, for instance, with booking and arriving made into a seamless experience (guests can check in online prior to arrival).
(Credit: The Pilgrm) The Pilgrm features a pared-back ethos
Bedrooms feature reclaimed and restored furnishings, such as 200-year-old mahogany parquet floors and original cast iron radiators, offset by a striking signature Tom Dixon ‘cloud carpet’.Bathed in natural daylight, each of the bedrooms are pared back, having removed items that over the years have become unnecessary to the traveller, enabling the experience to be more streamlined.
The hotel will also feature a ground floor neighbourhood café that will also serve as the welcome area for guests. Meanwhile, a lounge bar and dining room on the first floor makes the most of the original Victorian details: chevron wooden flooring, vintage cornicing and moulds.
thepilgrm.com