The Kensington reopens after refurb
Following an extensive 12-month renovation, townhouse hotel The Kensington has re-opened. The property sits in the heart of South Kensington and comprises 126 rooms and 24 suites, individually designed with elegant fabrics and custom furnishings to complement the property’s period architecture.
Completely redesigned spaces include the hotel’s restaurant now called Town House; the interconnected drawing rooms on the ground floor; K Bar – a glamorous new bar; as well as a new look for all guestrooms and suites, including the transformation of The Knightsbridge and The Brompton Suites. The hotel has also announced the appointment of new manager Simon Maguire, formerly of Firmdale Hotels and The Atlantic Hotel, Jersey.
The renovation is part of a multi-million pound investment programme across The Doyle Collection’s portfolio of eight properties in the UK, Ireland and Washington DC and is the first of the hotels to unveil a complete new look and style. The re-design has been overseen by Chairman Bernie Gallagher and the group’s design team, whilst collaborating with talented designers to suit different design projects.
The conversion of the three ground floor spaces of The Kensington has been overseen by Alexander Waterworth Interiors, the east London-based design collective well known for its private houses in west London as well as branches of Kerbisher & Malt and The Musket Room in New York.
Town House, the hotel’s dining room, now has its own discreet entrance on Manson Place and is made up of three adjoining rooms. The Library is an intimate space lined with books and collectables, opening into The White Room, with its open fireplace and small covered terrace and, in turn, connecting to The Study. These distinctive, flexible spaces can be used independently or opened up into one larger space, creating a variety of settings for informal dining, cocktail and canapé events or elegant business meetings.
Each room is infused with natural light from large bay windows and furnished with jewel-toned pieces that complement the heritage features and contemporary décor. The kitchen is supervised by Executive Chef Steve Gibbs, who trained under the great British chefs Jason Atherton and Mark Hix. His menus offer guests and visitors alike an enticing selection of fresh, seasonal, locally-sourced dishes, served alongside a stand-out cocktail and wine list.
The new K Bar makes a beautiful intimate space for hotel guests, visitors to the neighbourhood’s museum quarter and locals alike. Leather wingback chairs, teal and violet velvet sofas and tartan accents combine with heritage sports artwork and memorabilia to create a masculine, members’ club feel and the cocktail menu has been expertly crafted by award-winning bartender Ben Manchester.
The Brompton Suite is set to launch in March 2016, with a fresh new design by Emily Brady of Brady Williams Studios of London. The 753ft² space emanates the feel of a beautifully appointed luxury apartment in a grand historic building. The suite has been designed to create the look of an art curator’s London apartment and signature details will include a warm oak herringbone wood floor, 1960’s table lamps, window dressings designed to allow maximum natural light and exceptional views over the rooftops of South Kensington. The Brompton Suite will interconnect with The Knightsbridge Suite and a Luxury Studio Suite to create a two to three-bedroom space. This suite will complement the new Knightsbridge Suite – a spectacular large suite with three bedrooms complete with en-suite bathrooms, two living rooms and a luxurious daybed.
The hotel has a fully equipped gym and offers guests their own Kensington blue Pashley vintage bikes as an alternative to explore the locality, with the option of a picnic prepared by the culinary team. For after dark, guests can party with the locals at one of west London’s exclusive private members clubs, Ramusake, with exclusive access for hotel guests.
