Square Meal
Content
London hoteLs
london hotels
great expectations
As London gears up for this summer’s Olympics, existing hotels are fluffing their feathers while glossy new properties fling open their doors. Make the most of the new and improved event spaces
Words: Suzanne Wateridge
I
n case you hadn’t noticed, the world’s biggest sporting event is coming to London this summer. By the time the Olympics arrive, over £11bn will have been invested in making the city sparkle, and among the biggest spenders are its hotels, who are vying for the attentions of an estimated 450,000 staying visitors. The London hotel scene has never looked more vibrant. But what does this mean for event organisers? For a start, there’s a crop of new hotels springing up, from established luxury chains such as Four Seasons and InterContinental, to upscale operators Thompson Hotels and ME by Melia, who are dipping their boutique toes into London’s waters for the first time. Then there’s the refurbished meeting rooms and new and improved event spaces in existing properties, such as Lancaster London >>
88 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 89
london hotels
london hotels
and The Grosvenor Hotel. ‘Though we would have refurbished with or without the Olympics, it was definitely the catalyst in making the project start and finish on time,’ says Michael Parker, general manager at the Grosvenor. It’s a sentiment that’s echoed throughout the industry. And, with a halo effect that will reverberate for years to come, the London hotel industry is positively booming. Here’s our round-up of the latest developments and what lies in store.
OUT WITH: WI-FI CHARGEs IN WITH: FREE sURFING
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for hotels to justify exorbitant Wi-Fi fees. Though many properties claim it is the price and logistics of setting up a network that keeps costs at a premium, free internet access is now as essential a commodity as heating and water for corporate customers. But no naming and shaming. Instead, let’s credit some of those hotel groups who do provide free surfing for delegates and hotel guests alike, such as Radisson Edwardian, Soho House Group, Red Carnation Hotels, COMO Hotels and Resorts, as well as standalones One Aldwych and The Athenaeum. and The Savoy (see Silver Service, overleaf). The eco-friendly lancaster london has been almost as busy as its half a million rooftop honey bees, with a £11.5m refurbishment that has ramped up the hotel’s vast kitchens and given the Nine Kings Suite and Westbourne Suite a dramatic makeover. The hotel has also introduced the innovative Senses Room, which creates a ‘test-drive’ of an event, replicating not just the menu but the lighting, decor and colour
AHEAD OF THE GAME
In a year when all eyes are on London, it’s no surprise that some of the capital’s top hotels timed their latest refurbishment plans very carefully, ensuring the paint was dry long before the Olympic flame was lit. Park Lane princess the dorchester put the finishing touches to its Ballroom Suite last October. The space now packs the latest technology (an integrated audio system, remote-controlled spotlighting on any table configuration) but also recalls the hotel’s glittering past (three large crystal chandeliers restored to the ceiling domes, marble floors in the entrance hall). The Ballroom seats up to 500 and now also offers à la carte banqueting, a crowd-pleasing offering you’ll also find at the Lancaster London, Marriott Grosvenor Square
schemes, for up to 10 people in a glass-fronted room overlooking the kitchen. Across Hyde Park, another events heavyweight has just had a makeover. At the Royal Garden hotel, the refurbished Palace Suites now form a dedicated conference floor with a pillar-free principle event space holding up to 550. It’s complemented by a large pre-function area and four syndicate rooms. The exclusivity element, together with rooms that have a multitude of uses and set-ups – as well as some top-notch catering – is already proving popular with event bookers. The beginning of the year also marked the end of Guoman’s 18-month refurbishment of the Grosvenor hotel. What was a rather dilapidated railway hotel has now been restored (in consultation with English Heritage) to its former victorian glory, resplendent with gold leaf and original marble pillars. Nine new meeting rooms have been created, with the jewel-in-the-crown Orient Suite holding up to 150 under its elegantly restored ceilings. Restored victoriana also abounds at the four-star st ermin’s hotel which has just completed a £30m renovation project, with Grade II-listed interiors positively groaning with original rococo plasterwork and art nouveau styling. There are 15 meeting rooms, and the grandest of these is the Crystal Ballroom, >>
THE GROSvENOR HAS BEEN RESTOREd TO ITS FORMER vICTORIAN GLORy, RESPLENdENT WITH GOLd LEAF ANd ORIGINAL MARBLE PILLARS
Opening page, clockwise from top left: Bulgari; Four Seasons at Heron Plaza; Hilton London Wembley; South Place, ME London This page: Cloisters Suite, St Ermin’s Hotel Opposite: The Grosvenor Hotel
WHERE TO FIND THEM
the dorchester Park Lane, W1, tel: 020 7319 7071, squaremeal.co.uk/dorchester lancaster london Lancaster Terrace, W2, tel: 020 7262 6737 Royal Garden hotel 2-24 Kensington High Street, W8, tel: 020 7937 8000, squaremeal.co.uk/royalgarden the Grosvenor 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1, tel: 0871 376 9038 st ermin’s hotel Caxton Street, SW1, tel: 020 7227 7718 Marriott Grosvenor square, Mayfair, W1 tel: 020 7493 1232, squaremeal. co.uk/m-grosvenor
90 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 91
london hotels
holding dinners for 120. The smaller Cloisters Suite, seating 39 guests at one table, is a more subdued alternative.
DISTINCTIVE SERVICE
OUT WITH: sIlvER sERvICE IN WITH: A lA CARTE DINING
‘Chefs need to be in control of the plate – not waiting staff – in order to produce restaurant-quality food,’ says Stephen Kyjak-Lane, general manager of Lancaster London. As the hovering spoon and fork have fallen further out of favour – and staff trained in silver service are becoming a rarer breed – à la carte dining is becoming the default option for events at several of London’s top hotels. This means more creative menus, more efficient service and a less stuffy, old-fashioned feel to proceedings. Functions at the Lancaster London, The dorchester and The Savoy can now feature à la carte dining for hundreds of guests. Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square beat them all to it however, back in 2010, by launching the first Michelin-starred banqueting menu to guests holding functions in the hotel, whether small (12 people in the private dining room) or large (550 in the Westminster Ballroom).
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
No less than five new hotels are launching themselves onto the market before the Olympics circus rolls into town. Thompson Hotels’ Belgraves has already stolen a march by opening in February. Its rooftop Cigarden, attached to Mark’s Bar and accommodating 25, is a stylish backdrop for cocktails and canapés (and with an extensive cigar menu, smokers feel right at home). Hotels have certainly cottoned onto the fact that alfresco space is fast becoming a soughtafter commodity in the corporate entertainment market. Hence, Me london, opening in July courtesy of the trend-setting Spanish hotel chain ME by Melia, will boast an impressive wraparound roof terrace designed by Foster & Partners, holding up to 140. Also on offer for groups of up to 20 will be a stunning two-storey suite that will have its own entrance to the terrace. Further east, near Liverpool Street station, a convenient transport hub for the Olympic park, d&d London is launching south Place hotel in the same month, with an enticing rooftop >>
THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL IN LEAFY KENSINGTON, ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST 5-STAR HOTELS LONDON HAS TO OFFER. WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRESTIGIOUS LONDON MEETING VENUE OR A LUXURY ESCAPE, AT THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL YOU’LL FIND 5-STAR SERVICE WITHOUT THE STUFFINESS.
HEATHROW
KENSINGTON
KENSINGTON PALACE & GARDENS
HYDE PARK
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
WEST END
Above: roof terrace, ME London Right: Sky Bar, Hilton London Wembley 2-24 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET LONDON W8 4PT TEL +44 (0)20 7937 8000 FAX +44 (0)20 7361 1991 WWW.ROYALGARDENHOTEL.CO.UK
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
92 venues&events
venues&events 93
Choose a London venue that has got the space.
yOu WOuLd NEvER GuESS THAT 45 PARK LANE STARTEd LIFE AS A 1960s OFFICE BLOCK
London is crammed with venues, but space in many of them is a little tight. The Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, however, can easily accommodate up to 500 people and most requirements. From corporate hospitality to summer balls, our West End location and dedicated events team make any event a real showstopper.
www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-london [email protected]
restaurant and terrace on the seventh floor. And at the new hilton london Wembley, directly opposite the stadium, guests can look down on the hustle and bustle of Olympic football-goers from the comfort of the Sky Bar and Roof Terrace every afternoon. There’s no shortage of private screening rooms dotted about either. ME London will even have a 3d one, while the Bulgari hotel, which opened in May, has one with disabled access, seating 47. Both boast cinema-quality sound.
Above: 45 Park Lane Left: Prohibiton nights at The Savoy
0207 208 6000
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Belgraves 20 Chesham Place, SW1 tel: 020 7858 0100 Me london 336-337 Strand, WC2 tel: 0808 234 1953 south Place hotel 3 South Place, EC2 tel: 020 3503 0000 hilton london Wembley Lakeside Way, HA9, tel: 020 7616 6556
BACk TO THE FUTURE
The recent trend for retro styling in bars and restaurants has started to infiltrate the hotel market too. The fifth hotel to open this summer, the Ampersand, takes a refreshingly quirky approach, with curiosity cabinets inspired by the local South Ken museums flanking the walls of two private dining rooms, The Wine Room (seating 10) and The Games Room (seating 16). The hotel even employs a victorian coffee press to make its brews. In hotel design as in fashion, the art deco era is proving particularly popular. the savoy recently turned its Beaufort Bar into a
Prohibition speakeasy, with cocktails poured from teapots and Champagne bottles hidden in paper bags. Coco Chanel’s 1920s Parisian apartment was the inspiration behind the glossy decor in the sofitel st James bar and restaurant The Balcon, where a snug private dining room seats 16. And thanks to über-designer Thierry despont, you would never guess that The dorchester Collection’s 45 Park lane started life as a 1960s office block, so authentic is the art deco styling (even the 10-seater media room, for private screenings, oozes 1930s glamour). Finally, one of the hotels that’s closest to the Olympic Park, the town hall hotel in Bethnal Green, has masterfully combined art deco with Edwardian elements throughout its idiosyncratic meeting spaces and bedrooms. Hotel guests also enjoy a visit from the Town Hall Tea Lady, who wheels her drinks trolley from room to room mixing bespoke pre-dinner martinis. >>
Bulgari hotel 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 tel: 020 7151 1010 the Ampersand 10 Harrington Rd, SW7 tel: 020 7589 5895 the savoy Strand, WC2 tel: 020 7836 4343 squaremeal.co.uk/savoy sofitel st James 6 Waterloo Place, SW1 tel: 020 7747 2200 squaremeal.co.uk/sofitel-stjames 45 Park lane 45 Park Lane, W1 tel: 020 7493 4545 squaremeal.co.uk/45pl town hall hotel Patriot Square, E2 tel: 020 7871 0460 squaremeal.co.uk/townhall For more hotel venue ideas, click on ‘London Hotels’ under ‘Square Meal Selections’ in the left-hand column at squaremeal.co.uk/vande
94 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 95
london hotels
2012
CAFE ROyAl
StyliSh, hiStoric & cultured in the heart of london
An impressive, luxury 5-star hotel, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts a wealth of original period features. A quiet oasis away from the clamour of the city, the hotel offers spacious guest rooms, intimate private dining, Gillray’s Steakhouse and bar celebrating the finest English produce, a luxurious Spa, a leading-edge fitness studio and attentive service in a discreet riverside setting.
Former haunt of bohemians and intellectuals, the Regent Street stalwart will relaunch as a 159-bedroom luxury hotel, with a big name chef presiding over the Grill Room and the neo-classical Pompadour Suite holding up to 110 for cocktails, plus four other meeting rooms. tel: 020 8253 6513
...on the horizon
PARk INN By RADIssON WEMBlEy
The hotel’s location on Olympic Way will prove somewhat obsolete come October (it had planned to open pre-Games) but it is forging ahead nevertheless, with 140sq m of conference space. tel: 0844 847 6747
THE WEllEslEy
The Jazz Room at this 36-suite Knightsbridge hotel will hold up to 40 for parties and the penthouse will have a boardroom for eight. tel: 020 7235 3535
INTERCONTINENTAl lONDON WEsTMINsTER
london Marriott hotel county hall Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7PB 020 7928 5200 LondonMarriottCountyHall.co.uk
With a New Scotland yard location, this former hospital will have a grand ballroom, divisible into three spaces, eight state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a PdR in the main restaurant. tel: 020 3301 8080
2013
EDITION HOTEl
8894 CH Venues & Events ad.indd 1 14/06/2012 14:54
The Montcalm
At The Brewery
London City
London Marble Arch
The Montcalm
The first London hotel in Ian Schrager and Marriott International’s boutique chain opens in 2013, in the former Berners Hotel. No details of the event space as yet, but it’s sure to be hip.
sHANGRI-lA HOTEl AT THE sHARD, lONDON
Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group will be moving into the Shard in the second quarter of next year, touted as London’s first new-build five-star in over a decade. Occupying floors 34 to 52, lofty meeting space will include function rooms seating up to 200. tel: 020 8747 8484
...Luxury Lifestyle, Redefined
Classic Serenity....
Excellent events in the square mile just got exciting! Come explore an exquisite venue that brings grandeur , enhanced with technology that surpasses time itself. Completed by succinct fine dining and opulent luxury stay options here is a new world of exhilarating opportunities. The Montcalm London City at the Brewery presents an ideal venue for day and evening events for 10 – 80 guests, and residential conferences hosting up to 100 bedrooms. Explore exciting events in a need dimension.
Where Luxury comes to life
ART’OTEl HOxTON
The new hotel from the creative German chain will have a gallery, 350 bedrooms and a spa, housed over 18 storeys. tel: 0800 169 6128
In the heart of London’s West End, the extravaganza of the day sets, for the night to come to life. This is the epicentre of all the happening, where celebration and joys converge. The Montcalm London Marble Arch presents an experience like never before. Enjoy an evening of razzle and dazzle, rising into climax of celebration of mirthful joy, wrapped in a suave panache and grace! Welcome to The Grand Ballroom at The Montcalm, where every event is an exquisite expression of excellence and joy.
34 - 40 Great Cumberland Place, London, W1H 7TW, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0) 207 479 2244 / +44 (0) 20 7479 2233 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459 [email protected] www.montcalm.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459
HAM yARD
Firmdale will transform a derelict Soho site into one of their largest properties to date, with a cinema and a bowling alley. tel: 020 7287 4434
2014
10 TRINITy sqUARE
Opening late in 2014, the eagerly anticipated 10 Trinity Square will occupy a mighty Grade II-listed site just by Tower Hill. david Collins Studio, in consultation with English Heritage, is designing the interiors.
MONDRIAN lONDON
London gets the first Mondrian launch in Europe in former Sea Containers House on the Southbank. The rooftop bar, designed by Tom dixon’s design Research Studio, will be inspired by the top deck of a cruise liner.
42 – 46 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 207 614 0123 / +44 (0) 207 614 0100 Fax: +44 (0) 207 628 4511 [email protected] www.themontcalmlondoncity.co.uk
CENTRAL RESERVATIONS OFFICE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7479 2233
96 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 97
london hotels
great expectations
As London gears up for this summer’s Olympics, existing hotels are fluffing their feathers while glossy new properties fling open their doors. Make the most of the new and improved event spaces
Words: Suzanne Wateridge
I
n case you hadn’t noticed, the world’s biggest sporting event is coming to London this summer. By the time the Olympics arrive, over £11bn will have been invested in making the city sparkle, and among the biggest spenders are its hotels, who are vying for the attentions of an estimated 450,000 staying visitors. The London hotel scene has never looked more vibrant. But what does this mean for event organisers? For a start, there’s a crop of new hotels springing up, from established luxury chains such as Four Seasons and InterContinental, to upscale operators Thompson Hotels and ME by Melia, who are dipping their boutique toes into London’s waters for the first time. Then there’s the refurbished meeting rooms and new and improved event spaces in existing properties, such as Lancaster London >>
88 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 89
london hotels
london hotels
and The Grosvenor Hotel. ‘Though we would have refurbished with or without the Olympics, it was definitely the catalyst in making the project start and finish on time,’ says Michael Parker, general manager at the Grosvenor. It’s a sentiment that’s echoed throughout the industry. And, with a halo effect that will reverberate for years to come, the London hotel industry is positively booming. Here’s our round-up of the latest developments and what lies in store.
OUT WITH: WI-FI CHARGEs IN WITH: FREE sURFING
It’s becoming increasingly difficult for hotels to justify exorbitant Wi-Fi fees. Though many properties claim it is the price and logistics of setting up a network that keeps costs at a premium, free internet access is now as essential a commodity as heating and water for corporate customers. But no naming and shaming. Instead, let’s credit some of those hotel groups who do provide free surfing for delegates and hotel guests alike, such as Radisson Edwardian, Soho House Group, Red Carnation Hotels, COMO Hotels and Resorts, as well as standalones One Aldwych and The Athenaeum. and The Savoy (see Silver Service, overleaf). The eco-friendly lancaster london has been almost as busy as its half a million rooftop honey bees, with a £11.5m refurbishment that has ramped up the hotel’s vast kitchens and given the Nine Kings Suite and Westbourne Suite a dramatic makeover. The hotel has also introduced the innovative Senses Room, which creates a ‘test-drive’ of an event, replicating not just the menu but the lighting, decor and colour
AHEAD OF THE GAME
In a year when all eyes are on London, it’s no surprise that some of the capital’s top hotels timed their latest refurbishment plans very carefully, ensuring the paint was dry long before the Olympic flame was lit. Park Lane princess the dorchester put the finishing touches to its Ballroom Suite last October. The space now packs the latest technology (an integrated audio system, remote-controlled spotlighting on any table configuration) but also recalls the hotel’s glittering past (three large crystal chandeliers restored to the ceiling domes, marble floors in the entrance hall). The Ballroom seats up to 500 and now also offers à la carte banqueting, a crowd-pleasing offering you’ll also find at the Lancaster London, Marriott Grosvenor Square
schemes, for up to 10 people in a glass-fronted room overlooking the kitchen. Across Hyde Park, another events heavyweight has just had a makeover. At the Royal Garden hotel, the refurbished Palace Suites now form a dedicated conference floor with a pillar-free principle event space holding up to 550. It’s complemented by a large pre-function area and four syndicate rooms. The exclusivity element, together with rooms that have a multitude of uses and set-ups – as well as some top-notch catering – is already proving popular with event bookers. The beginning of the year also marked the end of Guoman’s 18-month refurbishment of the Grosvenor hotel. What was a rather dilapidated railway hotel has now been restored (in consultation with English Heritage) to its former victorian glory, resplendent with gold leaf and original marble pillars. Nine new meeting rooms have been created, with the jewel-in-the-crown Orient Suite holding up to 150 under its elegantly restored ceilings. Restored victoriana also abounds at the four-star st ermin’s hotel which has just completed a £30m renovation project, with Grade II-listed interiors positively groaning with original rococo plasterwork and art nouveau styling. There are 15 meeting rooms, and the grandest of these is the Crystal Ballroom, >>
THE GROSvENOR HAS BEEN RESTOREd TO ITS FORMER vICTORIAN GLORy, RESPLENdENT WITH GOLd LEAF ANd ORIGINAL MARBLE PILLARS
Opening page, clockwise from top left: Bulgari; Four Seasons at Heron Plaza; Hilton London Wembley; South Place, ME London This page: Cloisters Suite, St Ermin’s Hotel Opposite: The Grosvenor Hotel
WHERE TO FIND THEM
the dorchester Park Lane, W1, tel: 020 7319 7071, squaremeal.co.uk/dorchester lancaster london Lancaster Terrace, W2, tel: 020 7262 6737 Royal Garden hotel 2-24 Kensington High Street, W8, tel: 020 7937 8000, squaremeal.co.uk/royalgarden the Grosvenor 101 Buckingham Palace Road, SW1, tel: 0871 376 9038 st ermin’s hotel Caxton Street, SW1, tel: 020 7227 7718 Marriott Grosvenor square, Mayfair, W1 tel: 020 7493 1232, squaremeal. co.uk/m-grosvenor
90 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 91
london hotels
holding dinners for 120. The smaller Cloisters Suite, seating 39 guests at one table, is a more subdued alternative.
DISTINCTIVE SERVICE
OUT WITH: sIlvER sERvICE IN WITH: A lA CARTE DINING
‘Chefs need to be in control of the plate – not waiting staff – in order to produce restaurant-quality food,’ says Stephen Kyjak-Lane, general manager of Lancaster London. As the hovering spoon and fork have fallen further out of favour – and staff trained in silver service are becoming a rarer breed – à la carte dining is becoming the default option for events at several of London’s top hotels. This means more creative menus, more efficient service and a less stuffy, old-fashioned feel to proceedings. Functions at the Lancaster London, The dorchester and The Savoy can now feature à la carte dining for hundreds of guests. Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square beat them all to it however, back in 2010, by launching the first Michelin-starred banqueting menu to guests holding functions in the hotel, whether small (12 people in the private dining room) or large (550 in the Westminster Ballroom).
RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
No less than five new hotels are launching themselves onto the market before the Olympics circus rolls into town. Thompson Hotels’ Belgraves has already stolen a march by opening in February. Its rooftop Cigarden, attached to Mark’s Bar and accommodating 25, is a stylish backdrop for cocktails and canapés (and with an extensive cigar menu, smokers feel right at home). Hotels have certainly cottoned onto the fact that alfresco space is fast becoming a soughtafter commodity in the corporate entertainment market. Hence, Me london, opening in July courtesy of the trend-setting Spanish hotel chain ME by Melia, will boast an impressive wraparound roof terrace designed by Foster & Partners, holding up to 140. Also on offer for groups of up to 20 will be a stunning two-storey suite that will have its own entrance to the terrace. Further east, near Liverpool Street station, a convenient transport hub for the Olympic park, d&d London is launching south Place hotel in the same month, with an enticing rooftop >>
THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL IN LEAFY KENSINGTON, ONE OF THE FRIENDLIEST 5-STAR HOTELS LONDON HAS TO OFFER. WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PRESTIGIOUS LONDON MEETING VENUE OR A LUXURY ESCAPE, AT THE ROYAL GARDEN HOTEL YOU’LL FIND 5-STAR SERVICE WITHOUT THE STUFFINESS.
HEATHROW
KENSINGTON
KENSINGTON PALACE & GARDENS
HYDE PARK
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
WEST END
Above: roof terrace, ME London Right: Sky Bar, Hilton London Wembley 2-24 KENSINGTON HIGH STREET LONDON W8 4PT TEL +44 (0)20 7937 8000 FAX +44 (0)20 7361 1991 WWW.ROYALGARDENHOTEL.CO.UK
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
92 venues&events
venues&events 93
Choose a London venue that has got the space.
yOu WOuLd NEvER GuESS THAT 45 PARK LANE STARTEd LIFE AS A 1960s OFFICE BLOCK
London is crammed with venues, but space in many of them is a little tight. The Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, however, can easily accommodate up to 500 people and most requirements. From corporate hospitality to summer balls, our West End location and dedicated events team make any event a real showstopper.
www.radissonblu.co.uk/hotel-london [email protected]
restaurant and terrace on the seventh floor. And at the new hilton london Wembley, directly opposite the stadium, guests can look down on the hustle and bustle of Olympic football-goers from the comfort of the Sky Bar and Roof Terrace every afternoon. There’s no shortage of private screening rooms dotted about either. ME London will even have a 3d one, while the Bulgari hotel, which opened in May, has one with disabled access, seating 47. Both boast cinema-quality sound.
Above: 45 Park Lane Left: Prohibiton nights at The Savoy
0207 208 6000
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Belgraves 20 Chesham Place, SW1 tel: 020 7858 0100 Me london 336-337 Strand, WC2 tel: 0808 234 1953 south Place hotel 3 South Place, EC2 tel: 020 3503 0000 hilton london Wembley Lakeside Way, HA9, tel: 020 7616 6556
BACk TO THE FUTURE
The recent trend for retro styling in bars and restaurants has started to infiltrate the hotel market too. The fifth hotel to open this summer, the Ampersand, takes a refreshingly quirky approach, with curiosity cabinets inspired by the local South Ken museums flanking the walls of two private dining rooms, The Wine Room (seating 10) and The Games Room (seating 16). The hotel even employs a victorian coffee press to make its brews. In hotel design as in fashion, the art deco era is proving particularly popular. the savoy recently turned its Beaufort Bar into a
Prohibition speakeasy, with cocktails poured from teapots and Champagne bottles hidden in paper bags. Coco Chanel’s 1920s Parisian apartment was the inspiration behind the glossy decor in the sofitel st James bar and restaurant The Balcon, where a snug private dining room seats 16. And thanks to über-designer Thierry despont, you would never guess that The dorchester Collection’s 45 Park lane started life as a 1960s office block, so authentic is the art deco styling (even the 10-seater media room, for private screenings, oozes 1930s glamour). Finally, one of the hotels that’s closest to the Olympic Park, the town hall hotel in Bethnal Green, has masterfully combined art deco with Edwardian elements throughout its idiosyncratic meeting spaces and bedrooms. Hotel guests also enjoy a visit from the Town Hall Tea Lady, who wheels her drinks trolley from room to room mixing bespoke pre-dinner martinis. >>
Bulgari hotel 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 tel: 020 7151 1010 the Ampersand 10 Harrington Rd, SW7 tel: 020 7589 5895 the savoy Strand, WC2 tel: 020 7836 4343 squaremeal.co.uk/savoy sofitel st James 6 Waterloo Place, SW1 tel: 020 7747 2200 squaremeal.co.uk/sofitel-stjames 45 Park lane 45 Park Lane, W1 tel: 020 7493 4545 squaremeal.co.uk/45pl town hall hotel Patriot Square, E2 tel: 020 7871 0460 squaremeal.co.uk/townhall For more hotel venue ideas, click on ‘London Hotels’ under ‘Square Meal Selections’ in the left-hand column at squaremeal.co.uk/vande
94 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 95
london hotels
2012
CAFE ROyAl
StyliSh, hiStoric & cultured in the heart of london
An impressive, luxury 5-star hotel, the London Marriott Hotel County Hall boasts a wealth of original period features. A quiet oasis away from the clamour of the city, the hotel offers spacious guest rooms, intimate private dining, Gillray’s Steakhouse and bar celebrating the finest English produce, a luxurious Spa, a leading-edge fitness studio and attentive service in a discreet riverside setting.
Former haunt of bohemians and intellectuals, the Regent Street stalwart will relaunch as a 159-bedroom luxury hotel, with a big name chef presiding over the Grill Room and the neo-classical Pompadour Suite holding up to 110 for cocktails, plus four other meeting rooms. tel: 020 8253 6513
...on the horizon
PARk INN By RADIssON WEMBlEy
The hotel’s location on Olympic Way will prove somewhat obsolete come October (it had planned to open pre-Games) but it is forging ahead nevertheless, with 140sq m of conference space. tel: 0844 847 6747
THE WEllEslEy
The Jazz Room at this 36-suite Knightsbridge hotel will hold up to 40 for parties and the penthouse will have a boardroom for eight. tel: 020 7235 3535
INTERCONTINENTAl lONDON WEsTMINsTER
london Marriott hotel county hall Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7PB 020 7928 5200 LondonMarriottCountyHall.co.uk
With a New Scotland yard location, this former hospital will have a grand ballroom, divisible into three spaces, eight state-of-the-art meeting rooms and a PdR in the main restaurant. tel: 020 3301 8080
2013
EDITION HOTEl
8894 CH Venues & Events ad.indd 1 14/06/2012 14:54
The Montcalm
At The Brewery
London City
London Marble Arch
The Montcalm
The first London hotel in Ian Schrager and Marriott International’s boutique chain opens in 2013, in the former Berners Hotel. No details of the event space as yet, but it’s sure to be hip.
sHANGRI-lA HOTEl AT THE sHARD, lONDON
Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group will be moving into the Shard in the second quarter of next year, touted as London’s first new-build five-star in over a decade. Occupying floors 34 to 52, lofty meeting space will include function rooms seating up to 200. tel: 020 8747 8484
...Luxury Lifestyle, Redefined
Classic Serenity....
Excellent events in the square mile just got exciting! Come explore an exquisite venue that brings grandeur , enhanced with technology that surpasses time itself. Completed by succinct fine dining and opulent luxury stay options here is a new world of exhilarating opportunities. The Montcalm London City at the Brewery presents an ideal venue for day and evening events for 10 – 80 guests, and residential conferences hosting up to 100 bedrooms. Explore exciting events in a need dimension.
Where Luxury comes to life
ART’OTEl HOxTON
The new hotel from the creative German chain will have a gallery, 350 bedrooms and a spa, housed over 18 storeys. tel: 0800 169 6128
In the heart of London’s West End, the extravaganza of the day sets, for the night to come to life. This is the epicentre of all the happening, where celebration and joys converge. The Montcalm London Marble Arch presents an experience like never before. Enjoy an evening of razzle and dazzle, rising into climax of celebration of mirthful joy, wrapped in a suave panache and grace! Welcome to The Grand Ballroom at The Montcalm, where every event is an exquisite expression of excellence and joy.
34 - 40 Great Cumberland Place, London, W1H 7TW, United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0) 207 479 2244 / +44 (0) 20 7479 2233 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459 [email protected] www.montcalm.co.uk
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7745 1459
HAM yARD
Firmdale will transform a derelict Soho site into one of their largest properties to date, with a cinema and a bowling alley. tel: 020 7287 4434
2014
10 TRINITy sqUARE
Opening late in 2014, the eagerly anticipated 10 Trinity Square will occupy a mighty Grade II-listed site just by Tower Hill. david Collins Studio, in consultation with English Heritage, is designing the interiors.
MONDRIAN lONDON
London gets the first Mondrian launch in Europe in former Sea Containers House on the Southbank. The rooftop bar, designed by Tom dixon’s design Research Studio, will be inspired by the top deck of a cruise liner.
42 – 46 Chiswell Street, London, EC1Y 4SB, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 207 614 0123 / +44 (0) 207 614 0100 Fax: +44 (0) 207 628 4511 [email protected] www.themontcalmlondoncity.co.uk
CENTRAL RESERVATIONS OFFICE
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7479 2233
96 venues&events
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
For free advice on venues & events call 020 7840 6299 www.squaremeal.co.uk
venues&events 97
