© Andrew Beasley
The Londoner LONDON A decade in the making, Edwardian Hotels finally opens its urban resort on Leicester Square, bringing together a curated collection of intimate spaces. Words: Catherine Martin, Ben Thomas Photography: © Andrew Beasley, Henry Bourne
T
here’s been plenty of debate over the
we’ve coined because we truly believe this is
years as to what qualifies as a boutique
what we’re offering.”
hotel, but the one fundamental on which
The sentiment is shared by Hotel Director
most agree, is that it is small in size. So when
Charles Oak, who adds: “It’s really about the
Edwardian Hotels London labelled its new
atmosphere, the ambience and the service of a
flagship – with 350 guestrooms, six restaurants
boutique property. The interiors don’t feel as
and bars, and an 850-capacity ballroom – as
vast or cavernous as the building may give the
boutique, industry commentators could be
impression of; every space has been curated –
forgiven for being somewhat perplexed. After
we just have a lot more of them than you will
all, even Wikipedia says that such properties
find in a traditional boutique hotel.”
typically have between 10 and 100 rooms.
Indeed, the building is a considerable size.
In a bid to define this new class, the group
Standing on the corner of Leicester Square – an
came up with the concept of ‘super boutique’,
enviable spot that Edwardian Hotels acquired in
describing The Londoner as ‘boutique in feel
2011 – the newbuild spans an entire city block
yet staggering in scale’ with a collection of
and is as tall as it is deep. Its design, build and
spaces that are ‘individual, intimate, eclectic
construction is the culmination of a decade of
and curated’.
work involving a number of specialists. Woods
For Krishma Singh Dear, Head of Design at
Bagot led on the architecture, Yabu Pulshelberg
Edwardian Hotels London, the parallels are
took on the interiors and EE Smith were
through shared values rather than key count.
awarded the fit-out – their largest contract
“A boutique hotel has intimate spaces and is
to-date – while Arup provided expertise across
designed with attention to detail and touches
mechanical, electrical and façade engineering.
of the locale,” she explains. “It’s a term that
The entire process was overseen by Edwardian
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