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Now … before I start my article on South Place, I have a little confession to make. Firstly, in addition to my tres glamorous role as Design and Architecture Editor for Glass online, I should probably mention that I also work for Allies and Morrison. Allies and Morrison are the architects for South Place. Coincidentally (or perhaps not so coincidentally – I am a design fan) before working for A&M, I worked for Conran + Partners, the interior designers for South Place.
And while I am rather proud of my CV, I do not preface my review of this exquisite hotel with this information to boast. But, rather, in the interests of fairness to you, the reader. Since, whilst I maintain that my views here are my own and that I am perfectly capable of lavishing praise and admiration on South Place without the promise of a pay rise, I wouldn’t expect you to believe me. Particularly when you read how much I loved it.
And love it I did.
In spite of running one of the capital’s most successful restaurant and bar chains for more than twenty years, D&D London have not opened a hotel before, immediately begging the question – why? Since, what struck me from the moment I stepped through the front door was that these guys are pros – they can do hospitality in their sleep.
South Place’s headline is “more meet than sleep” an allusion to their holistic offer including not one but four places to eat and drink, meeting facilities, and the hotel.
The idea is that you can come to South Place at any time of day, with any agenda – from a business dinner, to a date, for cocktails with your friends or for a dirty weekend – and you will find the perfect spot to perch and relax. And whilst this is often the schema for a hotel, there aren’t many which manage it in quite the way that South Place does, achieving versatility by balancing British formality with British cool.
South Place effortlessly emanates that “smart but casual” punk glamour which is unique to London. For starters, the interiors are spectacular. They are elegant and sophisticated, incorporating demure art deco and mid-century references in an elegant palette of muted tones and naturals. This restrained chic is lifted, however, with the occasional trademark “Conran-twist” of colour or humour – a yellow pony-skin chair here, a record player to play with there. “It’s like a chocolate box,” says Tina Norden, Associate Director at Conran + Partners and lead interior designer on the scheme. “It has this exquisitely detailed and restrained exterior and when you open it up, the interiors are fun.”
Conran+Partners scoured London and beyond to source a number of original pieces, commissioning young new designers to produce one-off lighting, such as a chandelier in the entrance hall by George Singer, which is formed of miniature aeroplanes in cast aluminium. In 3 South Place, the ground floor brasserie, new designs, including the simple but beautiful Spider lamp by Autoban, are coupled with old classics such as Chesterfields, upholstered in a sexy charcoal grey to give them a modern look. C+P also visited vintage fairs, including Mid-Century Modern in Dulwich, to source one-off period pieces.
Many of the quirky touches are also found in the hotel’s art collection which was chosen and, in some cases, specially commissioned for the space by Conran+Partners with D&D themselves – Des Gunewardena and Dave Loewi. In 3 South Place, unusual sculptures are nestled in amongst the shelving, such as a piece by Cathy Miles which displays shoes sculpted in wire mesh. Artwork in the bedrooms was supplied by Hoxton Art Gallery and Jealous Gallery, while a tall cut-out panel by Grace & Webb, in The Garden bar on the first floor, dramatically emphasises the height in this small oasis from the city.
The Garden feels like a secret find. Taking advantage of the building’s U-shaped plan, this cocktail bar is nestled in the heart of the building. Its tall open space rises up through seven storeys to the skies, with a slate lining acting as a sort of dado, mediating the height and giving it a human scale. Comfy yet glamorous garden furniture in white tones and lavish planting reinforces the outdoors-indoors styling of the space, while cocktails served by South Place’s fabulous staff make it the ultimate new London place to be.
I do not use the word “fabulous” lightly when referring to the staff: D&D have ripped up their own rule book at South Place – leaving behind the pristine and polite in favour of the quirky, interested and interesting. These people are nice. And they’re not putting it on. Many of them are ex-Shoreditch House and know a thing or two about their drinks menu, as well as urban cool. Their presence is very telling of the vibe which South Place are hoping to, and are already managing, to create. In spite of its position in the middle of the city, somewhat off the beaten track for Friday night soirees, it is already packed to the rafters every weekend.
Following a delicious meal of perfectly executed British fare in 3 South Place, and having sampled pretty much the entire cocktail menu, I made my way to my bedroom. Here, the deco is almost monochrome with just a dash of colour. Containing all of the latest gizmos and gadgets – a plethora of light and temperature settings, a Bang and Olufsen television … even a Dualit toaster – the rooms are equipped to keep you entertained in comfort for hours.
My favourite part of the room, however, is what can only be described as the sexiest bathroom in London. Blue Savoie marble and a bath you could swim in are coupled with floor to ceiling windows which had me conjuring up scenes from the film Shame. As for the generously-sized and perfectly-fragranced freebie shampoos, shower gels and soaps – they are worth visiting the hotel for alone!
When the time came to leave the chocolate box, it was a real wrench. Whilst many of South Place’s hotel clients are bound to be business travellers, it is the sort of place which needs at least a weekend to fully indulge and enjoy. In spite of my residence in London, I shall certainly be returning again and again, if only for the cocktails.
by Emilie Lemons