The newly opened hotel in the heart of London is a boutique bolt-hole designed for rock stars and the wild at heart, as Anna Smith found out.
Irresistibly billed as “London’s first rock ‘n’ roll hotel”, the new Sanctum Soho was something I had to experience. It’s the brainchild of Embassy and Sugar Reef founder Mark Fuller, who’s joined forces with Iron Maiden’s management – so the rock credentials are definitely there.
You could easily miss the hotel’s discreet exterior on Warwick Street, the Piccadilly end of Soho – but it’s a whole different world once inside. I’m greeted by opulent boutique décor and a chirpy bowler-hatted chap who shows me to my junior suite. As something of a magpie I’m delighted to see it’s a glittering hall of mirrors with a kingsized bed, shower room and freestanding bath. “It doesn’t matter if you let the bath overflow,” he says. “It’s designed for it, so couples can have a bath together.” The hotel’s firmly liberal policy continues upstairs in the roof garden. “There’s a jacuzzi, so if you go out tonight and meet some new friends, you can bring them back for a jacuzzi.” So far, so rock ‘n’ roll.
The roof garden is my first stop. A rarity in central London, it’s one of Sanctum Soho’s biggest selling points, with a plant-lined decking area and covered areas with eclectic décor – I fall for a red snakeskin-style banquette and a huge turquoise mirror. A friendly waitress brings me a glass of Pinot Grigio and I chat to a girl enjoying the sun while her boyfriend sleeps downstairs. They’re booked into one of Sanctum’s “crash pads” – the cheapest and tiniest option – but had made the most of the roof garden’s friends-welcome policy by celebrating a birthday with pals. I make a mental note to book a crash pad for my next celebration.
Popping back to the room, I notice the diamante door handles – nice touch! Then I prepare for dinner with my partner in the hotel’s downstairs restaurant, No. 20. It’s light, airy and funky, with bronze gold leather banquettes and pink glass-clad columns. We settle in for a three course dinner after a few communication difficulties – the staff are invariably lovely, but not invariably fluent in English. The food is affordable quality – main dishes start at around £10-12. The salad starter is large enough to be a main meal, and a delicious mix of flavours with the accent on onion. As a self-styled burger expert, I try the homemade Aberdeen Angus burger and declare it delicious – not London’s finest, but not far off. My partner thinks it’s too rare – good job he ordered the lemon sole, then, which he also declares delicious. We share a quaffable bottle of house wine and a refreshing raspberry sorbet and everybody’s happy.
When we return to the room, the nice hotel mechanic is still trying to fix us up with an ipod docking station. As the website promised them in all rooms, we didn’t think it was too much to ask, but the dear boy is up to his eyes in screwdrivers and wires. Ah well, this gives us time for another drink on the roof bar. By the time we’re back it’s sorted, and although it’s complicated to switch from TV to ipod (never mind the Wii), we manage it.
Time to party! A couple of friends join us for a drink and appear duly impressed with our suite, even though it’s one of the smaller suites I’ve seen – I guess space is at a premium in Soho. There is room for a few people to sit down, however, and of course we’re only too glad to show off the roof garden. You can party all night up there – it’s open 24 hours, and bar staff are on call.
Did we party all night up there? Not telling. What happens at a rock hotel, stays at a rock hotel. Suffice to say I’m surprised we made breakfast. Boy, that Full English tasted good.
Sanctum Soho Hotel
20 Warwick Street Soho
London W1B 5NF.
Crash pads from £175; superior doubles £300; deluxe doubles £350; Junior Suite £450; Loft suite £650; Deluxe Suites £700; Balcony Suite £800; Two-bed apartment £900; Two bed garden loft suites £3500. For best available rates call the hotel on 0207 292 6100 or email reservations@sanctumsoho.com.
