Heart soul
A financier with the DNA of a designer , Jeremy Robson is carving his unique vision in the U . K . and beyond .
by BarBara Bohn , managing editor
When Eurostar passengers from Belgium and France emerge from the King ’ s Cross St . Pancras station in London , one of the first buildings they see is the Great Northern . The Victorian-era hotel , lovingly and painstakingly restored , updated and then opened in 2013 by JErEmy rObSOn ’ S RAM Group , cost 42 million pounds .
It almost didn ’ t happen . Investors were considering a “ 3- or 4-star , run of the mill ” approach to the dilapidated landmark that included putting a restaurant in the basement . So Robson pitched them some ideas — in the basement , and he made sure it was very , very dark . Then he took them upstairs and asked , “ Why do you want to bring in a corporate brand approach when it ’ s going to be a gateway to Europe ?”
The hotel opened to acclaim for being what Robson describes as a “ sanctuary in one of London ’ s most busy crossroads ” and has nabbed numerous honors .
“ I had the problem of convincing people
" You have to put Your heart and soul into conceptualizing what You want to create and then with real rigor enforce Your oBjective and dream ."
28 HOTELS April 2016 www . hotelsmag . com