Funky Venues

Venue Review

Character: Colourful and stylish boutique hotel with a “modern English” edge.

Funky Features: Unique interior design by Kit Kemp, an 18m deep blue swimming pool with a light installation by Martin Richman, original listed period features, walk-in wardrobes, granite bathrooms, hand painted wallpaper by DeGourney.

Location and History

As the name suggests this luxury boutique hotel is located at the heart of the London action. It’s minutes from Piccadilly Circus tube station, on the corner of Suffolk Place and Haymarket and around the corner from Trafalgar Square. Master Architect John Nash, who developed most of Regency London including Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the adjoining Haymarket Theatre, designed the façade. After a recent ‘modern English’ makeover by interior designer Kit Kemp and her husband and co-owner Tim Kemp, the Haymarket re-opened as a contemporary hotel on 1st May 2007.

Interior

Kit Kemp’s bright colors and friendly textures make the grand lobby a welcoming place with a modern twist. The grey oak floor sweeps under a large stainless steel sculpture by Tony Cragg and through to the cosy library which with its luxuriously large sofas has a real ‘home from home’ feel.

All the rooms feature fabric-covered walls and modern art but each feels distinct and individual: the beautiful hand-painted wallpaper by DeGourney in the Shooting Gallery is an artwork in itself, for example.

There are 50 individually themed rooms and suites offering the sort of amazing views, which are hard to come by in central London. All are uniquely designed spaces featuring walk-in wardrobes and luxury granite bathrooms with walk-in showers. All also offer the highest level of techno-luxury such as high-speed wireless internet access. All bathrooms feature an LCD TV which can be viewed from the luxurious bath.

Spaces for Hire

The vast shooting gallery is ideal for a party.  Beautiful hand painted wallpaper by DeGourney complements the original detail period features on the walls and frames the contemporary ‘clustered light-bulbs’ chandelier. The Shooting gallery houses 200 people standing, 70 people on round tables or 40 people on a banquet style table.

The pool offers 18 metres of brilliant blue water in which a striking light installation by Martin Richman is reflected. The swimming pool room boasts its own bar, sound system and sofas and a restful, star spangled ceiling. The pool room can seat 100 people with 150-200 standing and if the pool is covered, 400 people can party in the space.

Two meeting rooms offer inspiring places to work, complete with stone and driftwood tables and contemporary fabrics. The two downstairs rooms offer an area suitable for boardroom meetings and dinners for up to 20 people with a separate relaxing break-out area. Broadband is available throughout the hotel.

The one bed suite and 2 two bed suites can also accommodate meetings within their private lounge areas. The same applies to the exclusive townhouse property which offers up to five bedrooms and has its own kitchen and butler service.