Belmond Cadogan Hotel
Opened in March 2019, the Belmond Cadogan Hotel has undergone a £36.6 million project to restore the unique heritage of the site, which dates back to 1887. The site has also been fully renovated in a contemporary style to create one of London’s most exclusive retreats.
The hotel draws inspiration from the neighbourhood’s character offering a meeting place for both guests and the local community. A ‘home away from home’ on Sloane Street, Belmond Cadogan Hotel offers 54 rooms, two thirds of which are suites, some featuring original fireplaces. Each guest has access to a discreet entrance from 21 Pont Street, so the hotel may be used as a private residence. The hotel faces the private Cadogan Place Gardens, where guests can enjoy a picnic or play tennis, with the property also offering a 24-hour fitness suite, spa, some guest rooms with in-room libraries, and a dedicated menu and in-room ambience for young guests.
Speaking to Premier Hospitality about their work on the bedrooms, Jessica Morrison, Lead Designer on the project from the G.A Group said: “The historic nature of the building means that the majority of guestroom layouts are different. That is because even if the rooms stack, the architecture of each room changes so we have a very broad mix of layouts – a great attribute for the property. Arranged over five guest room levels, the vast majority of the rooms have a free standing bath, a double vanity and an enclosed WC and shower, with a small number of rooms having just a generous shower.
“In the standard guestrooms we created a heritage palette of soft greys, reds and browns, with coral patterns of the carpet design referencing Sir Hans Sloane, the creator of the Kensington and Chelsea area. We wanted to create a comfortable, residential scheme that feels like the furniture has been collected over time so there are mismatched nightstands and different table lamps on the bedside tables, creating a home away from home.
“There are six Suites with a different palette of blues and golds and the hierarchy of the Suites is developed so that as well as a separate living and bedroom area there is wallcovering in the Suites instead of a painted wall finish, plantation shutters throughout, a larger grand mini bar, and bathrooms incorporate reeded glass for added sparkle.
“The top two Suites are the Royal Suite and the Penthouse. The Royal Suite is a much more masculine palette of deep reds, vibrant colours and a Persian inspired carpet – we wanted to create somewhere that a modern-day Sir Hans Sloane would want to stay. The Penthouse is the more feminine Suite with purples, pinks and contemporary floral patterns, referencing the Cadogan Place Gardens opposite.”
The G.A Group has also completed work on some of the public areas of the hotel including the reception and function room.
Jessica added: “When we first visited the hotel six years ago, the reception area was much smaller and really felt out of proportion with the scale of the hotel. We increased the size of the reception and made it fitting for a grand townhouse to create a welcoming and luxurious arrival. The hotel was held in very high regard by the local Chelsea community so it was also important for us to reinstate the historic details. The original timber wall panelling has been recreated, but ‘painted out’ to freshen and contemporise the space and a working gas fireplace in its original form has been restored in the reception so guests can arrive on a cold evening and be greeted to a roaring fire.”
With architecture leadership and overall project coordination undertaken by Blair Associates Architecture Ltd, the London legacy of the property has been sensitively restored. Strategic design undertaken by Blair Associates Architecture Ltd included adding a sensitively designed new roof storey to the existing schedule 1 roof, creating a central corridor through the middle of the five buildings comprising the hotel, expanding the size of the rooms and instilling a sense of grandeur to the arrival experience, combined with the expanded reception and new lifts. Extending the basement, and encompassing the former ground and lower ground former Bank/Retail space into the hotel area and creating an external terrace has significantly and appropriately maximised and enhanced the accommodation of the new hotel.
Commenting on the work, Michael Blair from Blair Associates Architecture Ltd said: “These buildings are very much buildings, some of which are incredibly significant in terms of the original architecture, the location for where they are and that are considerably enhancing the constituent buildings of the hotel to the highest standard, commensurate with the area and the demands of today’s clientele. Each one of these buildings is like dealing with a jewellery box; you have to put the effort into the detail to make them significant. So often hotel refurbishments end up with a standard brand solution, which ruins the quality and individuality of the architecture and I think the Cadogan Hotel really did deserve the kind of quality of work and effort creativity that has gone into the project.”
At Belmond Cadogan, those searching for the best restaurants in London need look no further. Under the culinary direction of celebrated Chef Patron Adam Handling, Belmond Cadogan Hotel has something for every taste, at every time of the day.
A year in the making, Adam Handling Chelsea is the main restaurant within the hotel, Belmond’s first London property, designed by Adam with destination diners, hotel guests and locals in mind.
The design of the restaurant, created by Adam in collaboration with Russel Sage Studio, celebrates the building’s past heritage, offering modern, understated luxury. Staying true to Adam’s sustainable ethos, there are no cut flowers – instead, greenery is provided by potted plants and herbs. The artwork for the restaurant was commissioned by Adam from celebrated artist Katy Jade Dobson. The pieces in the restaurant are inspired by botanicals and Cadogan Place Gardens, featuring abstract shapes and silhouettes of flora, fauna and wildlife contrasted with 24ct gold leaf detailing.
At Adam Handling Chelsea, the menu encapsulates the very ‘best of British,’ taking a sustainable approach to British luxury and calling on the building’s illustrious heritage. The restaurant itself, which features a large, open kitchen and counter dining alongside the main restaurant area, seats 45 covers and has its own entrance on the corner of Sloane Street and Pont Street.
The menu is extensive, larger than those at any of Adam’s other Frog restaurants, and showcases elegant, British fine dining in an informal yet sophisticated setting. In Adam’s words, the menu is ‘inspired by London’ and uses the finest ingredients from across the British isles, combining his passion for London’s vibrant culture and diverse food scene with his distinctive and perfectly-executed cooking style.
Ultimately, the menu showcases a fundamental commitment to sustainable practice with a focus on championing smaller producers, using the very best seasonal produce. The menu offers a selection of stunning a la carte dishes alongside a signature tasting menu, both of which are available for lunch and dinner.
Adam Handling said: “This is the biggest opening of my career so far and I’m so excited to invite guests in. I want to celebrate everything that’s so wonderful about British produce, delivered luxuriously in a stunning setting. Sustainability is part of the core ethos of my group, so everything is sustainable without compromising on quality. At its heart, I want Adam Handling Chelsea to be a neighbourhood restaurant. We want to welcome our regulars and locals back time and time again.”
Adam has appointed Liam Burns as Restaurant Director to look after the Front of House team and overall customer experience.
Liam added: “I am thrilled to join Adam and his expanding group. Our aim is to tailor personal experiences for guests to establish a relationship with all of them. We’ll be serving people how we would want to be served.”
For more information on Belmond Cadogan Hotel, visit: https://www.belmond.com/hotels/europe/uk/london/belmond-cadogan-hotel/
For more information about Adam Handling Chelsea or to make a reservation visit: https://www.adamhandlingchelsea.co.uk/
C.A.G. Electrical
In operation for over 30 years, C.A.G. Electrical specialises in electrical design and installation for the hospitality, commercial and high-end residential markets.
Providing a professional attitude to electrical design and installation, C.A.G. Electrical has built a vast portfolio of projects for a range of clients. The company has previously worked with Beck Interiors, Square Meter, Byrne Group, Collins Construction and 21 Construction.
More recently, C.A.G. was involved with the full refurbishment of the Cadogan Hotel. This involved the upgrade of the core building services in accordance with the consultant’s specification, replacing the existing services within each of the 54 bedrooms and suites and show kitchen function suites, as well as the front and back of house areas.
The company was responsible for the installation of low voltage power distribution, lighting, fire detection and intruder alarm systems, a CCTV system, access control, disabled alarm and AV systems.
Graham Dear, Director, commented:
“We proudly employ a work force who have achieved technical excellence in their field and are committed to providing first class service on time and on budget. As a company we pride ourselves in delivering quality installations on time, providing value through dedication and experience of over 30 years’ within the industry.”
