Sanctum
It’s true to say that the type of hotels we’ve seen emerging over the past decade have dissolved traditional perceptions of what makes a good hotel. It’s probably even more accurate to say that this new generation of hotels has come of age, and the kind of choice available now is better than ever before.
Nowhere is this more evident than in London at the moment, and the newly opened Sanctum Soho brings with it the kind of cool that you’d expect of any hotel worth its salt in the capital.
The 30 guestroom hotel in Warwick Street is the brainchild of Concept Venues’ Mark Fuller, and is the result of two years planning and a £10 million investment.
In terms of location, style and overall offer, Sanctum has loads going for it. Spread over 20,000 sq ft, two Edwardian townhouses have been beautifully converted to create the seven-storey Sanctum Soho. Working within an impressive Grade II listed building with its original Liberty arts and craft staircase, the hotel’s interior has been designed by Lesley Purcell of Can Do. Having worked extensively in the luxury hotel market, with previous projects including Claridges, The Savoy, The Langham, Berkeley and Connaught, Lesley’s expertise is ideal for making the most of the space. Given the brief to conjure something different from the common place, well behaved, taupe and beige hotels, Purcell has drawn on classical styles whilst injecting frivolous, avant-garde elements that evoke the magic of Soho – bohemia meets rock and roll, disco meets cutting edge. Throughout the hotel further injections of life and colour come courtesy of an ever-changing gallery of modern art by Xavier Pick.
Combining a private cinema and events space, best of British 60-cover restaurant, stunning bedrooms, funky crash pads and a private roof-top garden, complete with 24 hour bar and alfresco Hydro Spa, alongside a level of service and host of extras worthy of a rock star, the hotel is set to become the must-stay destination in the capital.
Sanctum’s rooms all have classic metal door keys, which reveal rooms that refuse to compromise on style; from crash pads – perfectly sized for short stopovers, through to superior and deluxe doubles, junior suites with fabulous in-room freestanding baths, and larger suites offering live, work and play areas.
Five distinctive mood schemes can be discovered across the bedrooms:
Dark and sultry - art deco timber veneers set against velvet Turnell & Gigon drapes and Abracadazzle chocolate walls create a collection of rich boltholes. Black bathrooms with fired earth inset mosaics and chrome Lefroy Brooks Bel Air taps further enhance the seductive setting.
Opulent and decadent - imposing black four-poster beds dominate rooms of deep purples and gold. Stern and kinky, Louis mirrors alongside silk drapes and a carved amethyst velvet chaise longue, tempt and tease guests into submission.
Flirty and feminine - blushing boudoirs of pale nudes and pinks provide romantic rooms of baroque fantasy. Housing French Louis XIV style furniture or curved sofas and circular beds, these luscious ladies are worthy of a visit.
For the ultimate in luxury accommodation, Sanctum Soho offers a unique garden loft suite with its own design scheme – a fusion of velvety reds and bronzes. This spectacular rooftop space boasts two junior suites complete with kingsize beds, two freestanding baths, shower rooms and divine dressing areas as well as its own cocktail bar and private roof terrace.
In-room facilities have been carefully considered with the modern fast-paced urbanite in mind. iPod docking stations, DVD players, Wii consoles with Wii Fit at the ready, and complimentary WiFi, enhance the state-of-the-art entertainment systems, whilst 400 thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen, luxurious bathrobes, slippers and towels cosset guests in true luxury.
The 24-hour room service extends beyond convention, providing more of a lifestyle than a list of extras. Guests can make the most of a personal shopping service by Emily Cash; arrange in-room beauty treatments from facials and massages, to hair and manicures; hire a Harley Davidson from the front desk; take advantage of a guitar doctor service for an impromptu jam or simply fix those broken strings; and organise private security through the hotel.
Sanctum Soho also provide a Nike shoe menu whilst temporary membership to a local gym can be arranged. As a hotel resident, guests may also enjoy access to the most exclusive nightspots ensuring they effortlessly become part of the capital’s elite.
Timescale: 2 years
Budget: £10m
Main Suppliers:
Flooring: Amtico
Lighting: Swarowski, Bowles & Linares, Christopher Wray, Ecco Trading
Furniture: Kingsgate Furniture, Graham & Greene, Exterior-Interior
Accessories: Porta Romana, Fox Linton, Andrew Muirhead, Rubelli
Carpets: Courtisan
Sanitaryware: Lefroy Brooks
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