insideKENT Magazine Issue 97 - April 2020 | Page 67

LONDON BRINGING A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, INCREDIBLE DESIGN AND A TRUE WARMTH OF SERVICE TO THE HEART OF EAST LONDON’S CREATIVE AND TECH DISTRICT, GET TREATED LIKE ROYALTY, PUNK ROYALTY AT nhow LONDON BY SAMANTHA READY Entry to nhow London, one of the capital’s newest lifestyle hotels, is an experience quite unlike any other. Designed by Project Orange and styled by renowned architect James Soane, the ‘London Reloaded’ vibe is bright, edgy and unconventional, bringing a bold and colourful take to the clash of London’s industrial past and technological future. The sliding doors, which first opened for guests in January 2020, open to reveal a giant rocketship Big Ben, complete with bright yellow smoke bubbles, classic chairs upholstered to depict the Queen’s Guards and bright graffiti-style artwork. To the left is a large lounge area with cosy Cockney rhyming slang-inscribed tables for two and larger workspace- esq areas. There is an inviting central bar, by morning, the hub of the continental buffet, by night, a mixologists dream of signature cocktails and bright lights. To the right, a hidden fireside nook that not only offered the most insta-worthy spot, but also the most sought after evening relaxation area. Aside the apple-laden giant big wheel, (a nod to the London Eye of course and a hungry guest’s dream) was reception, a bright and welcoming affair where staff were genuinely friendly and ultra efficient. My keycard depicting a rather bright, sunglass wearing King Henry VIII was pushed across the counter beginning the start of my punk-royal journey in earnest. Lift doors open to reveal a hotel corridor like no other, atmospheric lighting, thick heavy drapes lining the walls, gone were traditional hotel doors, in their place brightly coloured ‘front doors’ complete with brass numbers, door knockers and their own street lamps - just wow. The hotel offers 190 rooms and suites, from superior, premium and deluxe through to suites that are larger than most London flats and a stunning penthouse, with the edgy, yet welcoming, contemporary punk- royal theme evident throughout. Punk meets the queen graffiti art on the bedroom walls, British bulldog bedside lamps, graffiti-style Union Jack rug, and a London bus for good measure, greeted me when I opened my front door. Open the door to the bathroom and you’ll find a huge mural of a royal figure heralding your arrival to your own bathroom ‘throne’, crown embroidered towels and a bright walk in shower in nhow’s signature green. Guests' royal treatment doesn't end there either, there is Dilmah tea, china tea pots, cut glass tumblers, designer furniture and a comfortable king size bed to round off the experience, oh and 24-hour room service too... Aside from the royal privacy of your room and the exceptional service to make you feel like a queen, or king, the nhow concept is social too. There is a basement gym designed to look like you’re entering a prison cell, fully equipped with the latest Technogym equipment offering a fun, bright space for a workout; unconventional meeting laboratories with lime green chesterfields and dining table style conferencing; and a hidden onsite pub restaurant. lights, and curved banquette bench seating with accent chairs in nhow’s signature lime green. Bell and Whistle not only strives to offer a great dining experience, but is playing its part in addressing the overconsumption of meat too. The menus are based around utlising fresh, seasonal vegetables to create main dishes that are consciously meat free, but also allows diners to add a range of meat and fish extras to create their own bespoke flexitarian feast. Feasting done, it was the perfect time to grab a cocktail, digestif or even a traditional cuppa and head for the incredible fireplace for some social, yet restful downtime, before enjoying a royally good night’s sleep. Discover your own unconventional experience and the affordable luxury of nhow London with rooms starting from just £190 per night. nhow London 2 Macclesfield Road London EC1V 8DG 020 3499 8271 [email protected] www.nhow-hotels.com/en/nhow-london nhowlondon nhowlondon Hidden in plain sight, the Bell and Whistle is a sensory delight of moving light walls, dartboard picture frames, ceiling suspended polished ‘bell’ THE BEST WAY TO GET TO LONDON Southeastern runs train services into London from Kent and East Sussex, operating some 2,000 trains a day, including the high-speed from Ashford to St Pancras International in just 38 minutes. www.southeasternrailway.co.uk 67