The best new UK hotels
Ianthe Butt rounds up six of the hottest check-ins that opened last month
A clutch of exciting new places to stay in London, a radically inclusive flashpacker spot in Glasgow, and a boutique bolthole in Oban: here are six of Britain’s coolest August openings.
The Other House, South Kensington, London
Bridging the gap between members’ club, hotel and private residence is The Other House in swish South Ken.
Created by Naomi Heaton, who has over 30 years’ real-estate experience, 11 Victorian townhouses now house 200 club flats – ranging from studio-style apartments to three-bedroom affairs. Decorated in green, burgundy and sapphire tones and tactile velvets, each has a mod-conned kitchenette and living room, giving a residential feel, and up to four flats can be interconnected – a boon for larger groups and families. Interiors by Bergman Design House are all polished flamboyance: the library has swirl-patterned wallpaper and 18th-century oil paintings with a graffiti revamp, while the lobby’s home to a photogenic mirrored peacock-feather chair.
Residents have access to the Owl and Monkey bar, a razzle dazzle of fringed lampshades and animal-adorned wallpaper, where golden age cocktails (honeydew melon, gin, elderflower, sea buckthorn and champagne foam) and plates of whipped feta and Padron peppers are served. Downstairs, a private lounge has plush sofas and a trio of old coal vaults turned into appealing snugs. At wellness hub The Other Space, there’s a petite pool with glinting inky-rainbow tiles, a relaxation courtyard, and everything from shamanic healing to astrology workshops on offer.
Restaurant The Other Kitchen dishes up breakfast and lunch, with one-off evening pop-ups – such as pasta making with an Italian nonna – planned for the future.
From £350, room only; otherhouse.com
Lost Property, St Paul’s, London
The latest addition to Hilton’s Curio Collection – the big-hitting brand’s portfolio of one-off, quirky hotels – has a prime location in the City of London, giving it immediate business-traveller appeal. What tips it into the bleisure category is that it’s steps away from St Paul’s Cathedral, meaning that if you book an 8.30am entrance ticket, you can wonder at the stained glass and atmospheric crypt minus the crowds, and without having to get up at an ungodly hour.
An arty backbone runs through the property itself: carpets feature abstract silhouettes of its famed neighbour’s dome, and the 145 bedrooms are unfussy with classic touches. Navy blue or deep maroon colour palettes give suites a regal, British feel, livened up by walls hung with prints of dodos and bowler hats, and there are marble bathrooms with Penhaligon’s toiletries.
Ground-floor restaurant Found serves up a nostalgic menu of British and French grub done well: think tiger prawn cocktail and ratatouille Provencale followed by knickerbocker glory (come breakfast time, the buffet is decidedly more standard-issue). Clever cocktails, made with chilli-infused tequila, or non-alcoholic No 75s, which riff on the French 75 fusing Seedlip, kombucha and lemon, are best enjoyed while sitting underneath the bar’s spectacular Murano glass chandelier, which features a flock of hand-blown glass birds that form the shape of an eagle when viewed from a distance. Alternatively, there’s casual cafe Tattle for Monmouth coffees and cinnamon rolls.
From £205, room only; lostpropertyhotel.com
Tribe, Canary Wharf, London
Hit Australian brand Tribe – a favourite with digital nomads and business travellers – has made its UK debut in the heart of Canary Wharf. Offering affordable spaces that deliver convenience and comfort without unnecessary frills, its 320 compact rooms (ranging from 14 to 21 sq m), with their floor-to-ceiling windows, king-size beds, comfy bedding, desks, rainforest showers and arty prints, are as pleasant to work in as they are for slumbering.
With Ennismore – of Hoxton fame – at the interiors helm, it’s no surprise that Tribe has serious design flex, and an entire ground floor dedicated to buzzy social spaces. As well as a 24-hour grab-and-go counter, there’s the Feels Like June restaurant, which has comfy banquettes, superfood bowls and California-inspired small plates – think tater tots filled with cacio e pepe – to graze on, plus on-tap coconut negronis on the funk-soundtracked terrace.
The brand is set to expand its UK presence, with openings in Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Chester all on the cards.
From £189, room only; mytribehotel.com
Revolver Glasgow
Taking over the space above iconic LGBT+ nightclub Polo Lounge in Glasgow is Revolver, a brand new ‘radically inclusive’ place to stay from WORQ Group, behind Boutique 50 in the city’s West End.
Taking over a former office space in Virginia House, as well as being LGBT+ friendly, it’s got wallet-friendly options to bed down in, too. Forty rooms range from simple but chicer than your average hostel-style dorms (from £25 a night, sleeping 6-8 with a communal bathroom), with parquet flooring and pastel-hued curtains, to pricier bedrooms (£60-£110) and serviced apartments (£300) with funky pendant lighting, clothes rails, Smart TVs and kooky knot-shaped cushions.
Artwork by queer artist Lewis Quinn takes pride of place in industrial-look communal areas, which feature exposed brick and neon lighting. There’s a salad and juice bar for light snacks, and a gym, along with treatment rooms offering craniosacral therapy, reflexology and massages, will open soon.
It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for drag-star royalty during a stay, as Revolver has a hosting agreement with the Polo Lounge for visiting talent.
Dorm beds from £25; revolverhotel.co.uk
The Highfield House, East Yorkshire
On the edge of market town Driffield, this Elizabethan-style Arts and Crafts home, formerly a takeover-only wedding and events venue, has been given a new burst of life – and 10 boutique bedrooms – by owners Lindsey and Andy Lampard. Surrounded by eight acres of grounds, each bedroom is packed with personality: 1610 melds Jacobean touches with superhero wallpaper (a nod to the fact that it used to be the bedroom of the Lampards’ Batman-loving son); an attic room, which used to be used as a sewing space, is decked out with rich textiles and an antique four-poster; while the more contemporary Sketch pays homage to the exuberant pastel-pink colour pops of the cool-cat London hotspot of the same name.
Guests have access to a help-themselves suite-treats pantry, stocked with homemade cakes, plus there’s a restaurant and cocktail bar headed up by Nathan Carlisle, where East Yorkshire’s best local ingredients appear in the likes of baked celeriac with wild mushrooms, and lamb medallion with courgette puree and Hasselback potatoes. There’s also an afternoon tea menu to suit every dietary requirement, spanning traditional – smoked salmon sandwiches, loaded scones and lemon drizzle cake – through vegan to keto-specific – featuring keto cheese scones, sausages wrapped in bacon, and devilled egg with masala mayo.
From £160, B&B; thehighfieldhouse.com
No 17 The Promenade, Oban, Scotland
Hot on the heels of the opening of No 26 By The Sea at the end of 2020 comes another boutique opening in Scottish west-coast favourite Oban, masterminded by hospitality pro Paul Sloan.
Taking over guesthouse Wellpark House on Corran Esplanade, the dog-friendly property has 19 smart bedrooms – with sea or woodland views – ranging from those whose sparkling blue-and-grey decor mirrors Oban Bay seascape panoramas, to others that are more sultry, with darker shades, statement floral headboards and peacock-patterned cushions. All have Alexa-enabled Hepburn radios, Gordon Castle toiletries, and powerful rainfall showers.
Locally sourced ingredients take pride of place at No 17 restaurant – think seared Isle of Mull scallops, steaks and burgers with Arran smoked cheese hollandaise, and banana split with brandy-steeped cherries. Spots for a cuppa (they have an extensive fine tea menu) or a Martini nightcap include The Salon, with a roaring fire and comfy chesterfields, or the Seaview Lounge, which has killer views out to Oban Bay and Kerrera Island. There’s a special eco rate for those who opt out of the housekeeping service in advance, plus the property will plant a tree for each night you stay.
From £190, B&B; no17thepromenade.com
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