[Advertisement – this post is based on a press stay, but all words and opinions are my own]
I often have to go to London for meetings and press previews, but normally I nip there and back in a day and don’t have any time to slow down and enjoy the city. So, when I was invited to spend a night at newly opened hotel The Hoxton Southwark by Trouva, an online marketplace where you’ll find beautiful homeware from independent boutiques across the UK and beyond, I jumped at the chance.
One of nine branches in the stylish Hoxton chain, the hotel occupies a tall grey-brick building, just a short stroll from South Bank, the Tate Modern, the Globe theatre and Borough Market. It took me less than 10 minutes to walk there from Waterloo station, and first impressions were very promising. The exterior is beautiful, with Crittall-style windows and blanket-strewn seating areas framed by lots of leafy plants, and the lobby inside is nothing short of stunning. Stepping through the door, I was greeted by soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls, black and white tiled floors, large potted palms, brass chandeliers, and cosy clusters of rattan chairs and blush-pink sofas. The feel is part industrial and part old-school New York, and I absolutely loved it.
Spread over six floors above, the 192 rooms range from the small but cleverly designed ‘Shoebox’ to the spacious ‘Biggy’. Mine was a mid-size ‘Cosy’, which had a table and chairs plus large windows gazing out over the rooftops – I could just see the London Eye peeking out from behind a nearby building. All share the same decor, which mixes concrete ceilings with elegant sage-green wall panelling, maroon-red velvet headboards, parquet floors, black marble-topped nightstands and brass lamps, and have a selection of quirky art prints perched above the bed. I particularly loved all the little touches, which make the rooms a joy to use: retro-style Roberts radios, tea- and coffee-making kit, stoneware mugs engraved with the hotel’s address, maps and insider guides to the local area, and big bottles of Blank toiletries in the green-tiled ensuites (all of which have walk-in waterfall showers).
A selection of handpicked gifts from some of Trouva’s partners was waiting for me on the bed, so I spent a relaxing half hour unwrapping them over a hot drink. I’ll share more about these wonderful independent shops in a separate post, but among the goodies were a scented candle and a pair of delicate grey mugs from Scandinavian-inspired lifestyle boutique HAYGEN, minimalist brass earrings from A Weathered Penny, artisanal blends from Good & Proper Tea, bath salts and a shower spray from Earl of East‘s Japanese bathing line, sustainable South Korean hemp cloths from Alkemi Store, and a hand-woven blanket by Wallace Cotton.
After finishing my cuppa I headed out for a wander around the neighbourhood, stumbling across atmospheric churchyards and pretty streets that looked like they came straight from the pages of a Dickens novel. I relished having a few hours to explore without needing to dash off for appointments or trains, and I was fascinated by Southwark’s history. Inhabited since Roman times, it became a major trading hub in the 17th and 18th centuries and was particularly known for its tanneries and glass-blowing workshops – something which the hotel designers have reflected in the hand-blown glassware and leather lounge chairs. Today it’s renowned for its food and culture scenes, and there are numerous galleries, restaurants and theatres in the converted factories and warehouses.
In the evening, I joined a few other bloggers and some of the Trouva team for a terrazzo workshop in the Apartment, the hotel’s dedicated meeting and event space. It was hosted by Katie Gillies, who runs similar events across the UK and Europe, and was huge fun. Over the course of two hours, we made our own coloured terrazzo chips and cast them into coasters, which Katie then took away to sand. Fairly predictably, I opted for grey, white and beige-pink in a bid to recreate the colours of my house, and I’m really pleased with the finished results, which arrived in the post a few days later.
The rest of the evening was taken up with dinner in the Mediterranean-inspired ground-floor bar and restaurant, Albie (there’s also a rooftop seafood restaurant called Seabird, which I didn’t get to see). The staff laid out a selection of sharing dishes in the centre of the table and everything I sampled was delicious, from the panzanella and charcuterie-board starters to the pasta and sea-bream mains. Despite not having much of a sweet tooth, I even loved the desserts – a rich chocolate and hazelnut concoction and a zingy lemon tart.
After a blissful night’s slumber (as much as I love my husband and cat, sometimes it’s nice to have a big bed to myself and sprawl out like a starfish!), I enjoyed a very lazy start to the day thanks to The Hoxton’s ‘Breakfast in a Bag’ concept. Just leave the paper bag provided hanging from the hook outside your door, and when you wake the next morning you’ll find it filled with pastries, fruit and freshly squeezed orange juice. Being able to take things leisurely rather than rushing to make a set breakfast time was a real treat, but if it’s not enough to fill you up, there’s a full selection of hot and cold options on offer downstairs.
The noon check-out time meant I got to enjoy my wonderful room for a little while longer, but eventually I had to pull myself away and return to Bristol. I’d certainly recommend The Hoxton Southwark as a stylish, comfortable and very convenient London base, and I hope I get the chance to return soon. I’d also love to see some of the other hotels in the Hoxton collection, which include New York, Paris and Amsterdam. If the reviews are anything to go by, they promise to be just as good…
Rooms at The Hoxton Southwark start at £80 per night, including ‘Breakfast in a Bag’ delivered to your door. ‘Cosy’ rooms like the one shown here cost from £150 per night.
All photography by Abi Dare
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