Design concept: The Londoner

The Londoner (imagery: © Henry Bourne)

Our latest TOPHOTELDESIGN exclusive takes a closer look at Edwardian Hotels London’s stylish newbuild in the heart of the UK capital – one of 2021’s most talked-about openings.

Prominent studio Woods Bagot – London led the architectural design of this luxurious property, while the renowned practice Yabu Pushelberg – New York worked on its interiors.

A super-boutique experience

Billed as the world’s first super-boutique hotel, The Londoner opened its doors to guests on the iconic Leicester Square in September 2021.

The brainchild of family-owned hotel group Edwardian Hotels London, it was designed in collaboration with Woods Bagot and Yabu Pushelberg to capture the character of London and integrate nods to British humour throughout. Overall, the 16-storey property is home to 350 guestrooms, including a Tower Penthouse duplex suite and expansive Trafalgar Suites, along with six concept restaurants, members club-style area The Residence, event space, a cinema, and a floor dedicated to wellness.

Space to work, socialise and unwind

Within the development, The Residence encompasses an impressive collection of areas for relaxing, working and indulging, including Y Bar, The Drawing Room and The Whisky Room, accessed via a secret passage.

Public restaurants and bars here span signature restaurant Whitcomb’s, offering Mediterranean cuisine from morning to night, and The Stage, serving menus centred around champagne. Joshua’s Tavern, meanwhile, provides a neighbourhood drinking spot for creative communities, and the hotel’s rooftop is home to the izakaya lounge 8 at The Londoner.

The hotel’s wellness offering is found within The Retreat, pairing fitness, nutrition and nourishing therapies with amenities including a swimming pool, barber, blow-dry bar, nail bar and the Refuel sanctuary, specialising in nourishing drinking and dining options. And events are hosted in a range of spaces, including the 6,000 sq ft Ballroom for up to 800 people, the more intimate Green Room, and a network of seven meeting rooms called The Gallery.

Sustainable design

As a newbuild structure – and having secured a £175 million Green Loan from HSBC UK in a first for the hospitality sector – the hotel employs the latest sustainability methods, exceeding the Breeam Excellent category in building environmental and sustainable performance.

In terms of its interior design style, the property fuses traditional British sensibility with a minimal neutral palette and contemporary furnishings, integrating floor-to-ceiling windows and the latest technology into each guestroom.

Art features throughout the public and private areas, moreover, ranging from classic to contemporary pieces and highlighting emerging designers. Yabu Pushelberg, James Robertson Art Consultants and Edwardian Hotel London’s Krishma Singh Dear worked together to curate this outstanding collection. Leading Edwardian Hotels London’s design team, and having previously worked at Yabu Pushelberg, Dear helped link the hotel group and its collaborators across art and design.

For more info about this scheme, and to view an extensive gallery of hi-res images, check out The Londoner’s project page on the TOPHOTELDESIGN website.

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