This just in from London: Design Hotels has debuted Ham Yard Hotel - Firmdale Hotels' eighth London property, and one of the most striking ones, to boot.
The 91-room hotel (and 24 residential apartment property) encompasses a pedestrian thoroughfare flanked by a restaurant, bar and 13 specialty stores. Other amenities include a drawing room, library, Soholistic spa, 188-seat theater and a 1950s bowling alley. Topping off the urban village is a rooftop garden.
At the heart of the property is a new public square, home to five oak trees, a bronze sculpture by Tony Cragg and the specialty stores. Brands invited to retail in the space include florist, Bloomsbury Flowers and Australian homeward & jewelers, Dinosaur Designs.
Adjacent to the lobby, a ground floor library and honesty bar welcomes guests of the hotel, and a public drawing room is located next to the restaurant, which flows out onto the courtyard. The Croc is an original 1950s bowling alley imported from Texas, named after the three driftwood crocodiles which adorn the walls.
Named after the hotel, Ham Yard Bar and Restaurant offers a menu focused around the best of British produce (think seared scallops and tempura courgette flowers, or sea trout with samphire and mussels).
Each of the 91 rooms and suites features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the courtyard or London skyline. Bathrooms are a mix of granite and oak, and launching at Ham Yard is Firmdale's new amenities line, RikRak.
For more information visit www.designhotels.com.