Interior Design Hotel London
Diverse, eclectic, buzzing and creative are the words I’d use to describe the multi-faceted and historic, yet urban City of London.
With its mix of modern star architecture and buildings deeply rooted in history The City surely is a neighbourhood worth discovering. At the same time it is a popular hub for multi-nationals and London’s primary financial district. This makes the Andaz London Liverpool Street an ideal address for business and leisure travellers alike. Home to one of the oldest pubs as well as a great variety of restaurants and bars in terms of interior styles and cuisine, it should be on everyone’s list when in this part of town.
The historic building featuring iconic red bricks bears lots of surprises.
The Andaz London Liverpool Street, formerly the Great Eastern Hotel, is a 5-star boutique hotel and has got a long-standing history of its own. The hotel first opened its doors in 1884 by the Great Eastern Railway Company to accommodate the increasing number of travelers using this then modern way of transport. The luxury hotel even had its own train track for their deliveries, which included a daily supply of fresh sea water, so that their wealthy customers could enjoy a salt water bath. Sadly the hotel was neglected over the years and eventually closed in 1996. Four years later, after a massive renovation, the hotel reopened its doors revealing its true beauty mixing authentic Victorian architecture with modern eclectic interiors.
The grade II listed ball room has been converted into an elegant Wine Lounge aptly name 1901 Wine Lounge.
In 2006 the hotel once again changed ownership and became the first Andaz hotel, the design brand of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The brand Andaz defines itself by ‘personal style’, however, I would take it a step further and describe it as ‘Hyatt standards with a touch of quirkiness, lots of individuality and a true sense of place.’
The quirky hotel lounge, where history meets graffiti is a true reflection of this hip London neighbourhood.
Only a few steps away from the hustle and bustle of Liverpool Street Station, it feels like stepping back in time into a haven of peace when you enter the hotel. The lobby area consists of a lounge featuring a 10m tall ceiling with a rim displaying tools and parts of railway construction as well as the original logo of the Great Eastern Hotel. Graffiti and quirky wallpaper lines the walls creating a very artsy East London feel to the space. The enormous full height ruby red velvet curtains add a touch of drama to the lounge.
The bedrooms feature an eclectic mix of old and new features as well as some original artwork.
The 267 rooms and suites feature a minimalist décor mostly held in black, white and red as well as touches of wood. Many rooms boast splendid city views overlooking the roofs of old terraced houses contrasted by modern architecture such as The Gherkin. The Deluxe rooms offer a generous sitting area, larger than many London flats.
The metro tiles and free standing bathtub add a traditional touch to the black and white bathrooms.
I was particularly fond of the tall ceiling, the generous size of the bedroom and the huge windows. All rooms offer a comfortable bathroom with tub and shower. The black and white colour scheme featuring the famous London metro tiles and traditional style British taps add a touch of nostalgia to this modern bathroom.
There’s nothing like a hearty English breakfast in style to start the day.
Lacking a stomach or two, I ‘only’ got to experience 2 of the 5 outlets that form part of the hotel. Whether it’s for the sumptuous breakfast buffet, traditional English afternoon tea, casual or fine dining, guests are guaranteed a versatile and sophisticated culinary experience. As for me, I surely felt like a queen sipping on my cappuccino and smoothie and enjoying my poached eggs…
The casual Eastway Brasserie featuring monochromatic industrial interiors offers a wide variety of dishes.
Eastway Brasserie offers breakfast, lunch and dinner in a relaxed ambiance with bistro style cuisine and décor and an open kitchen. The restaurant is also popular with the local office crowd and I now know why…
The historic Lady Abercorn’s Pub (formerly named George Pub) is one of the oldest pubs in the City of London featuring some impressive oak panelled walls and a remarkable Victorian coffered ceiling. It serves traditional pub food and has got an oversized plasma screen TV welcoming local and visiting sports fans.
As one of the oldest pubs in London, Lady’s Abercorn’s Pub offers a great ambiance and is a must-visit when in this part of town.
The no-fuss décor, straight lines, wooden wall panels and red accents typical of Japanese interiors, set the scene for the Japanese restaurant Miyako.
Rake’s Bar successfully blends the traditional architecture of the building with contemporary interiors. The elegant space certainly sets the mood to enjoy a drink in style and get lost in conversation…
The bold colour scheme of the Rake’s Bar is sure to create a lively ambiance.
Then, there is the temple! Yes, you heard right! During the renovations in the year 2000, engineers noticed discrepancies from the original blueprints and much like in a fairy tale, discovered the most magnificent Masonic Temple hidden behind a wall. The lavishly decorated ‘Grecian Temple’ was built in 1912. It is fitted out with some of the most exclusive Italian marble, checkerboard floor tiles, mahogany chairs, bronze candelabras, a blazed golden ceiling star and a massive intricately carved throne. Legend has it that the infamous Jack the Ripper used to be one of the members attending the rites at the temple back in the days… However, today the space is popular for weddings and other formal events.
As I was admiring the Temple at the Andaz, I couldn’t help but wonder about the many stories this room must hold…
To complete your stay at the Andaz London Liverpool Street, you can either get moving in the Fitness room after a long day of meetings or relax those sore feet after walking the busy streets of The City in the steam room…
Big city greetings!
Simone xxx
P.S. If you love hotels filled with history (and stories) as much as I do, then you may also like Les Trois Rois Basel (Switzerland), the Beau-Rivage Geneva (Switzerland), the M Maison Particulière in Porto (Portugal) and Penha Longa Sintra (Portugal).
Hotel website: Andaz London Liverpool Street
Photography: Courtesy of Andaz London Liverpool Street
Note: This blog post was created in collaboration with the hotel (sponsored press visit).
