With the best theatre, shopping, nightlife and entertainment on its doorstep, Hilton's historic boutique hotel makes it a crime not to explore London's hotspots.
Considering I have trundled past Liberty’s, onwards to melt the credit card in fashionable Carnaby Street, more times than you have likely had hot dinners, it is surprising that I never knew I was passing by one of London’s most historic hotels. It could be the hotel’s unassuming facade, or my blinkered desire to get my hands on yet another pair of jeans I don’t really need that caused me to pass it by on so many occasions, but either way Courthouse Doubletree is a little hotel with a lot of character.
To be fair, the building hasn’t always played host to the media types and businessmen that now hang out in the lobby making the most of the free Wi-Fi – it was once one of London’s most infamous Magistrate Courts and the scene of many famous cases.
Although the sleek reception, with its rather bizarre seats fashioned in the shape of giant shells reminiscent of a Mermaid’s boudoir, doesn’t at first allude to the building’s interesting heritage, look beyond this hot-potch of design and you will be pleasantly surprised. One treat is the quirky hotel bar set on the other side of the entrance lobby. Set in the old holding block, the original prison cells have been turned into private rooms, complete with padded toilet and bed for added comfort. I tried one of the signature cocktails, The Dickens Delight, in honour of the days when Charles Dickens worked at the court as a reporter, and the rum-infused ginger beer concoction slid down a treat as we discussed the quirky-cool interior.
After chuckling at the sight of a dapper-clad businessman sat on one of the cell loos, pint in hand, I made my way to the Michelin-recommended Asian-fusion Silk restaurant. Once the main courtroom, today the restaurant acts as the hotel’s architectural focal point, with an impressive vaulted glass ceiling and oak panelling. As you deliberate over the Asian-fusion offerings, the well-versed waiters talk you through the original layout, pointing out the spot where Mick Jagger would have once stood in the dock for drugs charges back in 1969, or where Oscar Wilde once graced. My personal favourite was the thought of Bob Monkhouse standing trial for trying to defraud a film distribution company, and it left my dining companion reeling off Full House quips to my amusement.
Sadly the surrounds overshadowed the slightly lacking cuisine, which should have probably just gone for the Asian element and left the fusion out of it. A clear vegetable broth first cleansed the palate before a starter of pandan leaf wrapped chicken thigh and paw paw salad was served up. The chicken was succulent and the salad refreshing, but a tad underwhelming given the restaurant’s status. Next came a well-cooked piece of steamed sea bream, followed by lamb chops served with a vegetable stew and rice pancakes – a rather bizarre mix of flavours. However, I was won back around by the dessert platter, which appealed to my sweet tooth with a range of extremely sugary treats, including an espresso cup of condensed milk to wash it all down with.
Before heading out to explore the sights and sites of Soho we nipped back up to the room to freshen up. Although the hotel in general is full of character, the guest rooms err on the side of basic and functional, unless you upgrade to a Magistrates Suite housed in the former high-ceilinged judges quarters or the opulent Lalique Crystal Penthouse suite. However, the room served its purpose as a comfortable bed for the night, and, to be fair, with the alluring retail treats and jumping nightlife on the doorstep, staying in gazing at four walls was the last thing on my mind. When the night came to a close the outstandingly central location made up for the average décor when skipping the short journey home after a night of revelry.
Courthouse Doubletree Hotel
19-21 Great Marlborough Street
London, UK
Tel: (020) 7297 5555.
Website: www.courthouse-hotel.com
Prices start from £350 per night (based on two sharing).
