Inhabit Hotels is expanding its London portfolio with Inhabit Queen’s Gardens, a 159-room boutique slated to open in Bayswater in early 2022. Set across a crescent of mid-19th century townhouses near Lancaster Gate, the property has been created with a passion for wellbeing and living in a way that supports a healthy mind and body, as well as the aim of modelling responsible hospitality practices.

As such, the public areas include a 70-cover plant-heavy-menu restaurant and bar, comfortable lounge areas for socialising and working, and a noise-free library stocked with thought-provoking reads spanning meditation, social enterprise, holistic health, contemporary art, philosophy, local London and nature. A subterranean wellness area provides treatment rooms, a fitness suite and yoga studio.

Everything at the new hotel has been considered with a genuine commitment to environmental initiatives and meaningful community partnerships; Inhabit has pledged to work with 100 social enterprises and small, socially-conscious businesses.

Art and Design

Holland Harvey Architects, Caitlin Henderson Design and art curators Culture A have collaborated with Inhabit Hotels to design the tranquil escape, blending contemporary Scandinavian inspiration and Eastern philosophical awareness with a quintessentially British style.

Inhabit showcases the ingenuity and creativity of craftspeople too, working with more than 30 makers and artists including award-winning social enterprise Goldfinger, which demonstrates that luxury design can and should be people and planet positive, and has produced bespoke joinery in the public areas and guestrooms.

Somerset House Studios and Makerversity meanwhile have supplied artworks by emerging and established artists such as AnneMette Beck, whose multi-textural art installation welcomes guests as it plays along the wall at reception. Hugo Dalton’s dynamic light drawings nudge visitors to consider nature from a new perspective, while Freya Bramble Carter’s bespoke tactile ceramics adorn the guestrooms. Social-impacting soft furnishings include Myanmar’s Kalinko Homewares and Studio 306 cushions from Aerende, made by people recovering from and living with mental health illness.

As a brand founded on the belief that design should have a positive social impact, Inhabit has also focused on using sustainable materials throughout the building’s transformation. One such material is Granby Rock, a custom-made terrazzo produced by Granby Workshop using marble from the original site, which will now form a centrepiece fireplace in the reception. Granby Workshop is a manufacturer of architectural ceramics based in Liverpool, established by Turner Prize-winning assemble as part of a community-led effort to reinvigorate Granby – a neighbourhood made derelict by decades of poor planning initiatives.

Wellness

Regarding wellness not simply as a physical state, but as a way of being, is at the heart of the Inhabit brand too. Reflecting this ethos, the new hotel champions social connectedness, intellectual expansion, environmental responsibility, physical and emotional wellness and occupational enrichment. A series of regular workshops, lectures and events will be curated by Head of Wellness Maria Tsiarta to help guests recharge, invigorate, connect and learn. In keeping with the Scandi aesthetic, guestrooms and suites will be stocked with uplifting, full-size and refillable amenities from Certified B Corporation Skandinavisk – disposable miniatures are not welcome here.

‘Inhale at Inhabit’, the hotel’s wellness centre, also hosts a programme of daily activities, including vinyasa flow, transformational Hatha and yin yoga, Pilates and complimentary morning meditation classes. The gym provides the essentials, as well as a Peloton Bike, with guests able to join live classes streamed directly from Peloton’s NYC studio, or choose from a library of studio workouts.

Two treatment rooms meanwhile offer menus by Gaia, a natural skincare brand handmade in Britain using traditional artisan production methods. Inspired by ancient Greece’s Mother Nature, the Gaia range uses Fairtrade, certified-organic plant extracts sourced from small farms and producers. Treatments include the Gaia Poultice Massage, using herbal compresses to heal, soothe and increase the flow of chi; and the Gaia Yoga Lifting Facial, a stimulating workout for the face to improve muscle tone and smooth fine lines. The signature Gaia Raindrop Therapy at Inhale is an exclusive, 120-minute full body and facial therapy using the purest essential oils to bring balance and harmony both emotionally and physically. The ritual incorporates raindrop techniques to the back, spine and feet to soothe and nurture whilst a face cleanse and scalp massage restores peace and serenity. Inhabit Queen’s Gardens will be the first London hotel to offer Gaia treatments.

Food & Drink

Inhabit has collaborated with Marc Francis-Baum, founder of London venues such as Mare Street Market in Hackney, and Moor & Mead at Montcalm East, to create The Kitchen at Inhabit. A 70-cover restaurant will serve an imaginative all-day menu in a light-flooded space. Dishes include saffron-pickled cauliflower, sultanas and fried halloumi; split pea dahl, soft egg, yoghurt, crispy shallots, flatbread; burnt aubergine, tahini yoghurt, pomegranate and dried mint; plus Inhabit’s plant-based take on a full English breakfast.

At the charismatic marble bar meanwhile, focus is given to English wine and small UK spirit producers including East London Liquor Company, Sapling Vodka, Victory Distillery and Nc’Nean. New-gen, alcohol-free drinks are plentiful too, from Big Drop craft beer and Noughty organic, vegan sparkling wine to Seedlip, Something & Nothing seltzers, fresh house-squeezed juices and Fix8 Kombucha.

“It’s an exciting challenge opening a fully meat-free hotel in London,” says Craig Purkiss, Executive Chef at Barworks. “We’ve researched and developed a menu focussed on the quality of our produce, as well as the importance of sustainable dishes and practices. Ultimately, we let the produce do the talking.”

Community

Inhabit supports local social enterprises who share a passion for wellness and commitment to sustainability. The hotel’s community of collaborators includes Self Care Co, Goldfinger, Be For Change, Globechain, Saira Hospitality, Belu Water, Con-Serve, Who Gives a Crap, IQAir and more.

The group is also working towards B Corps certification with the goal of being among the in the UK to achieve the eminent standard of corporate responsibility, an accreditation for businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability to balance profit and purpose.