London's best boutique hotels for UBM's Protection & Management Series 2019

UBM's Protection & Management Series – made up of IFSEC International, FIREX International, the Facilities Show and Safety & Health Expo – comes to ExCeL London this June. For those who are yet to book their hotel, why not consider one of the capital's elegant boutique properties?

Individual, stylish and original, these unique hotels offer something that cannot be found elsewhere. From a buzzing rooftop bar in the heart of Shoreditch to a hidden jungle courtyard in the middle of the city, each of them boast their own special attributes that make them the best boutique hotels in London.

by Steven Potter & Vicki Forde

Blakes

Widely considered to be the world’s first boutique hotel, Blakes boasts an evocative design courtesy of Bond girl turned hotelier Anouska Hempel, who most recently put her stamp on the brand new Six Sense Duxton in Singapore. First opened in 1978, Blakes still retains a sense of romance with 45 individually designed rooms and suites. The all-white Corfu Suite and the theatrical Cardinal Suite are particular highlights while the bohemian Matthew Williamson-designed courtyard brings together bold colours, Moorish influences and a striking gold cage dining area. 

The Mandrake

With a central London location – just north of Oxford Street – and an unassuming entrance, The Mandrake is as deceptive as the deadly plant from which it takes its name. Upon entering through a dark corridor, guests will soon discover that the facade belies what’s inside. Beyond the opulent, velvet-draped lobby is a striking verdant courtyard featuring colonial style furniture and a greenhouse filled with medicinal plants. There are 34 bedrooms placed around the courtyard along with a brand-new South American restaurant and a swanky bar serving plant-based cocktails. 

Boundary Project

Made up of a restaurant, cafe, rooftop bar and 17 individually designed rooms, the Boundary Project is a headline act on Shoreditch’s nightlife, dining and accommodation scene. Terence and Vicki Conran are behind the establishment, transforming a former printing warehouse into a buzzing destination spot. Each of the rooms is inspired by an iconic designer or design movement of the 20th century with a carefully curated selection of furniture and artworks – think Le Corbusier sketches, handmade wallpaper and original Eames chairs. 

Dean Street Townhouse

Owned by the Soho House group, the 39-bedroom Dean Street Townhouse sits above one of Soho’s most popular restaurants, but the country house style rooms offer a tranquil escape that’s a world away from the action below. Ranging from Tiny to Bigger, each of the rooms has a classic decor that matches the Georgian townhouse exterior. Antique furniture and retro touches sit alongside whimsical textiles and velvet furnishings while in some of the Medium and Bigger rooms Egyptian white cotton dresses mahogany four-poster beds. 

Chiltern Firehouse

If money is no object (and you can get a room) book into the Chiltern Firehouse, the celebrity haunt helmed by legendary hotelier André Balazs. Open in Marylebone since 2013, the 26-room hotel is housed in a former 1887 fire station; the original facade has been restored and the ladder shed now acts as the hotel lobby. Rooms are simple and sophisticated with a hint of retro charm while the Nuno Mendes restaurant serves contemporary dishes with an American slant in an attractive brasserie style setting. 

Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

The original of two Zetter Townhouses and sister property to The Zetter Hotel, this 13-bedroom Clerkenwell property has a unique character all of its own. With interiors by Russell Sage, the quirky hotel has been created to reflect the private residence of an eccentric Great Aunt, and the intriguing taxidermy, tasselled lampshades and cabinets of curiosities do just that. In the rooms, mismatched furniture and bold colours make up the decor while iPod docking stations, Ren toiletries and East London Liquor Company refreshments bring the comfort. 

Dorset Square Hotel

Open since 1985, the Dorset Square Hotel was the first hotel from Tim and Kit Kemp and today it forms part of their booming eight-property Firmdale group. The pair set the standard when it comes to boutique hotels and the most senior family member still remains one of London’s best. Kit’s signature contrasting prints and patterns are present in abundance across the 38 individually designed bedrooms, many of which overlook a private garden, while The Potting Shed restaurant presents a menu of modern British dishes. 

45 Park Lane

Little sister to The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane sits within a marvellous Art Deco building and makes a strong first impression with a grand 1920s lobby featuring varnished wood, black lacquer and a visually-arresting floor-to-ceiling light fixture. The black lacquer also makes an appearance in the timeless bedrooms along with glazed-wood walls and furnishings, geometric patterns, and black and white photography. US chef Wolfgang Puck is behind the high-end steakhouse, Cut, and hotel guests are given access to The Dorchester spa.

The Pilgrm

A relatively new addition to the Paddington area, The Pilgrm is a celebration of British craftsmanship with a meticulous restoration of the Victorian building in which it’s found home and an attractive pared-back, custom-fit design. The mahogany staircase alone took 300 hours to restore and now the attractive feature takes centre stage in the coffee shop-cum-hotel lobby. Additional features include 200-year-old mahogany parquet floors, cast iron radiators and signature Tom Dixon ‘cloud carpets’. Organic mattresses handmade in Devon, Egyptian cotton sheets and Marshall speakers help create a luxury feel. 

Town Hall Hotel

Located in trendy Bethnal Green, the unique Town Hall Hotel fuses historic architecture with modern design. Original marble staircases and Art Deco meeting rooms, along with the original Council Chamber, set the hotel apart while the juxtaposition of classic and quirky furniture and the addition of specially commissioned artworks give it design credential. The mix of bedrooms, suites, studios and apartments widely differ but all come with one-off vintage furniture and all but 10 of them feature fully fitted kitchens. Two restaurants and a bar are located within the hotel. 

HOTEL DEALS FOR THE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT SERIES

A number of special hotel deals have been arranged for registered visitors and exhibitors of the Protection and Management Series 2019. As well as a range of nearby hotels, all of which are located a short walk from ExCeL London, there is a fantastic variety of properties to choose from. Whether you want to stay in a major London hub such as Covent Garden or book into one of the capital's best new hotels, this selection of properties has something for you.

If you are attending the Protection and Management Series 2019, you can access the official hotel deals from HotelMap? here:

Hotel deals for IFSEC International

Hotel deals for FIREX International

Hotel deals for the Facilities Show

Hotel deals for the Safety & Health Expo

Alternatively, email [email protected] or telephone +44 20 7292 2320