Rosewood’s London outpost is an elegant retreat offering luxurious and stylish interiors with playful touches, a serene spa, solid dining options and a very popular cocktail bar, Scarfes. With its first foray into London, Rosewood has created not just a magnificent new hotel, but a whole new neighbourhood: ‘Midtown’, previously known – as plain old Holborn. The location is extraordinary, starting with the most unexpected of courtyards, like a mini Somerset House. Inside, a kind of country-house vibe emanates – a country house, however, with a tremendous sense of wit and panache.
For me one of the most sexiest and stylish places you will find in London.
Location
You can’t be more central in London than here – the veritable palace is tucked just off bustling High Holborn. You are literally in the midst of everything.
Entrance to the imposing building of Rosewood is via a passage leading into a little courtyard; rather like entering into another, much calmer, world. The tube is just a few minutes’ walk away (Central and Piccadilly Lines), while Covent Garden and its theatres, shops and world class restaurants, is less than 12 minutes’ walk away.
For a culture hit, the British Museum is just around the corner, as is Lincoln’s Inn Fields – London’s oldest, and largest square.
Style
This Belle Époque building was originally the home of Pearl Assurance (the company installed the imposing seven-storey marble staircase) and more recently the Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel.
Tony Chi designed the big-budget interiors, a style difficult to characterize; by turns demure and decadent, muted and glossy, traditional and contemporary. The overall effect is dazzling. Then there’s the zen-like Sense spa with bamboo walls, soft lighting and wooden walkways over rippling water and pebble stones that lead to treatment rooms; a Matthew Curtis hair salon, and fitness studio.
Upon entering the hotel, guests are met with a zebra crossing-like marble floor in a lobby filled with decadently squashy sofas and high floor-to-ceiling glass cabinets of curios, including a Clockwork Orange mannequin head. Despite the effortless elegance, the place doesn’t take itself too seriously, with cages of fake birds and models of a bulldog and bear by the lifts. Corridors are dark and sultry, with eye-catching touches such as a rose gold mirrored ceiling.
Despite the extravagant décor, Rosewood London still maintain a warm, home-away-from-home feel due to the thoughtfully chosen books, photographs and objets d’art.
Rooms
Rosewood London’s 262 rooms and 44 suites are stylishly filled with lacquered surfaces, prismatic mirrors and Italian marble bathrooms.
Rooms in four categories (Executive, Grand Executive, Premier and Grand Premier), plus a range of suites, come in a soothing palette of off-whites, stones, greys and taupe. All are spacious, with big comfy beds, two armchairs and a table. There’s a good range of glassware, to go with the DIY cocktail kits. Higher category rooms offer complimentary snacks and soft drinks in the minibar; a really nice touch. Storage space is plentiful, with robes provided and slippers brought at turndown.
Big marble bathrooms have lots of mirrored surfaces; an indulgent double-ended sunken tub as well as a huge walk-in rain shower. Czech & Speake toiletries are top notch – foamy shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, soap and body lotion, as well as all the little kits you could possibly need. Extra-mile touches in some rooms include complimentary soft drinks and snacks in minibars.
Some of the executive rooms have impressively high ceilings — ask for one when you book or opt for a unique multi-level suite.
Rooms and suites are slick and elegant; the best of the bunch are the signature suites (which all come with their own butler). Chancery House has an airy living room, an Italian marble bathroom and a dining table that seats eight; the Garden House Wing is a five-bedroom penthouse with custom-made furniture and an outdoor terrace. Then there’s the sensational Manor House Wing – so large it’s the only suite in the world to boast its own postcode. The grey, taupe and cream scheme is jazzed up with Asian accents (lacquered furniture, Chinese porcelain cups in the bathrooms), and there’s homemade sloe gin in the bedrooms. What a delight!
Service & facilities
The attentive and always friendly employees of Rosewood meet all the requirements that are expected of the staff of an international high-quality hotel chain. You can tell that the management here has a eye on every little detail.
The smiling porter greets the guests in the courtyard and escorts them to the reception desk, while while the luggage flies to the room guided by an invisible hand.
Showcasing the capital’s finest conversational cuisine and intuitive service, Rosewood London’s luxury hotel restaurants and bars share a genuine British sensibility.
The Holborn Dining Room is an Art Deco, brasserie-esque space, designed by Martin Brudnizki and run by ex-Ivy chef Calum Franklin, with high-end touches such as oversized flower displays and glam lighting. Quirky touches come in the form of tweed topping on red leather banquettes and staff wearing tartan trousers. The bar stocks more than 500 gins; taking a recommendation (including tonic pairing) is your best bet. The sommelier makes great suggestions.
From scallops with red and yellow beetroot, fried squid, burgers and fish options such as hake, with squash and wild mushrooms or sirloin steak with Truffle parmesan fries and Chantenay carrots you will be in culinary heaven here.
Breakfast here is completely à la carte. I’d love to sit here and read my paper while very tasty Bircher muesli with a strong orange zest flavor and eggs florentine were on its way.
Don’t miss the perpetually jammed Scarfe’s Bar (black-pudding scotch eggs by day, killer cocktails by night) and the elegantly elongated, glittering Mirror Room (squishy Chesterfields and a menu including scallop ceviche and steak tartare) are at either end of an exquisitely lit bronze corridor that insulates the lobby from the outside world.
Sitting outside in the courtyard terrace in summer with a glass of something chilled is a joy.
The Sense spa is a soothing space; a warren of black slate with a relaxation room, sauna and steam facilities in changing rooms, plus treatment rooms. There is also a gym, with fruit and headphones supplied.
Function space
Ideally located for both society and corporate events at the city’s geographic centre, Rosewood London’s magnificent selection of heritage function rooms and facilities can accommodate all sizes and types of gatherings, from intimate dinners to receptions for up to 350 guests.
Encompassing 11 event spaces, Rosewood London offers 1,083 square metres (11,660 square feet) of indoor meeting space, including one Grand Ballroom with foyer and three heritage boardrooms with original architectural features.
The Rosewood is the perfect location for weddings, anniversary, Incentive trips, sales-meetings or product placements. A very dedicated and experienced event team will turn your function into a successful and memorable one.
The Dining Room offers the possibility of unique culinary experiences, as it is the only private dining space with a show kitchen in a five-star London hotel.
Please visit the Rosewood website for meetings and events:
Function rooms and facilities
Meetings and events
For more information or bookings, please visit:
Website: rosewoodhotels.com/en/london
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7781 8888
Requests for private or corporate events please contact:
Mr. Paul Potrykus
Phone: +44 (0) 20 3189 2125
Paul.Potrykus@rosewoodhotelgroup.com
Contact:
Rosewood London,
252 High Holborn,
London WC1V 7EN
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7781 8888
