Everything in The Dixon has been painstakingly
thought of. There are nods to its past life as a
magistrates’ court echoed throughout the design and
every detail tells a story. Its name is taken from John
Dixon Butler, the Edwardian architect who designed
the now listed building that dates back to 1905, and
imposing, solid oak entrance doors automatically
open into an entrance hallway that’s dominated by
two design triumphs: a grand central staircase leading
to the upstairs chambers with stunning vaulted ceiling
and skylight, and a beautiful hand-blown Italian
chandelier containing 60 delicate glass handcuffs.
The dramatic hallway – far more art gallery than
thoroughfare – boasts monochrome photos of famous
former SE1 residents (Charlie Chaplin included) as
well as preserved original benches upon which local
scoundrels carved out their names while waiting to
be led into the dock.
In a clear nod to the change of power, the judge’s
oak canopy in the Courtroom Bar remains, but the
marble-clad bar itself is sunken beneath and
sentencing now involves a range of cleverly conceived
cocktails. The Long Garden Vodka, a fruity refresher
for ‘indecent exposure’, and the Rum Throw-Back,
a rum-based Old Fashioned for ‘false imprisonment’
come highly recommended and taste all the more
glorious against the backdrop of another inspired
light piece, this time featuring 193 bulbs to represent
the hotel’s 193 stylish bedrooms.
With separate street access that belies its position as
a hotel restaurant alone, Provisioners, the restaurant
and coffee bar at The Dixon, is a cool, chic space.
By day, the coffee shop is light and breezy, while the
restaurant is a hub of activity with decadent breakfast
buffet tables, freshly brewed coffee and a mixed bag
of guests including young families, couples and
business travellers with their laptops already open.
By night, the coffeeshop transforms into a bar
and the perfect spot for events and gatherings,
while the restaurant changes pace to reflect the
welcoming and unfussy approach to its European-
influenced menu.
The oxtail croquettes with red onion jam were deep
with beefy flavour and finished with a hint of
sweetness (I’d return for those alone); classic crystal
prawns were elevated with a spicy homemade chilli
sauce; the Harlequin and Crown Prince squash
soup with toasted seeds and oil drizzle was rich and
earthy; and the eight-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder
was full of flavour and served with a tasty jus. All
were exemplary.
The Provisioners design is classic yet contemporary:
light wood panelling, bold clean lines and modern
tables and chairs. Look closer though and you’ll
notice the subtleties – the wooden floors with striking
tiled accents showcase the footprint of the former
jail cells on which it’s been built, the menus come
in the form of courtroom dockets, and the central
jail cell has been preserved and reimagined as a
coffee store. Of course it’s not just any coffee store…
In another nod to history and a story involving a
policemen who taunted inmates by wafting the
aromatic scent of coffee into their cells, The Dixon
now brews (behind bars, naturally) its own artisan
coffee, Shakedown, which is available at Provisioners,
in the hotel bedrooms’ coffee pods and in the
Courtroom Bar’s Espresso Martinis. The latter simply
had to be ordered to wash down our rich Valrhona
chocolate mousse with silky caramel, and a perfect
peanut parfait with brown butter ice cream.
Never has a journey to a bedroom been more
inspiring. The outer lift wall is awash with original
keys salvaged from the building, some with their
original Metropolitan Police insignias and all dipped
and sprayed to the same metallic finish evident
throughout the hotel’s design scheme. Intricately
designed console tables on each landing are carved
from the salvaged court benches and dipped in metal,
and artwork by local artists or featuring local faces
pops with contemporary colour from a largely black
and white palette.
Our own fourth-floor bedroom, as well as offering
dual aspects across London rooftops and glimpses
of Tower Bridge, provided a comfortable, modern
space with oak, grey and aged glass finishes, generous
king size bed, a sleek marble bathroom with local
Murdock London toiletries and yet more modern
artwork – a calming and suitably charismatic respite
to end our stay.
The Dixon
211 Tooley Street,
London
SE1 2JX
[email protected]
www.thedixon.co.uk
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