Premier Hospitality

The Biltmore Mayfair

Biltmore
Written by Roma Publications

The Biltmore

 

The Biltmore Mayfair opened its doors as Europe’s first LXR Hotel & Resorts property – Hilton’s collection of luxury hotels – in September 2019. The 308-room hotel combines exquisite contemporary accommodation, stunning views across the gardens of Grosvenor Square and innovative culinary concepts by Michelin-starred restauranteur Jason Atherton, creating the ultimate urban sanctuary in the heart of Mayfair.

Martin Goddard from Goddard Littlefair, the interior designer studio behind the concept for the hotel said: “We were challenged by the owners, Millennium Group, to really show what the property could achieve. For us that started with unpicking the bones of the building; analysing the number and size of rooms and suites that could be achieved; and demonstrating how totally reconfiguring the ground floor could make the arrival sequence and reception experience seamless and luxurious. The property had all the right ingredients for the five-star market; beautiful architecture, a prominent London location, scale and space – there was a natural association with luxury brand LXR on the operator side and Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton for the F&B offering.”

A new jewel in the prestigious neighbourhood, the hotel unites 20th century grandeur with modern architectural details. Guests looking for an elegant escape can book into one of the 51 beautifully designed suites, where, for special occasions; they can enjoy personalised embroidered pillowcases and monogrammed bathrobes. Instead of a traditional minibar, guests who book one of the hotel’s eight signature suites will have access to a quilted, leather-encased cabinet holding a full-size bottle of champagne. Even the hotel’s youngest residents will feel perfectly pampered in the signature suites with their own bathrobes, coloured toothbrushes and access to a complimentary non-alcoholic minibar throughout their stay.

Jo Littlefair said: “We very much perceive London to be a series of villages, knitted together over time, each with its own distinctive character and history. The ‘village’ of Mayfair was a source of inspiration, as a place where the well-travelled chose to settle and international traders built townhouses as their homes.

“We wanted to knit the fabric of that exploratory nature together with references to the Far East and the hotel owner’s origins. We included touches of East-Asian influence in the room design, but kept it English and residential with its townhouse feel. The furniture design feels contemporary yet has the elegance to harmonise with the architecture and, while the colour scheme is restful and warm, jewel-like colours are used on occasional pieces to add richness to the palette.”

The Biltmore is also home to the capital’s most sought-after new restaurant concepts from world-renowned restaurateur Jason Atherton:

  • The Betterment features a seasonally driven menu, from locally sourced fish and meats that are wood-fired, to signature salads and plant-based dishes.
  • The Pine Bar operates as a sophisticated bar with classic cocktails, exceptional wines and delicious bar snacks.
  • The Tea Lounge, located within the hotel lobby, is ideal to enjoy one of London’s finest afternoon teas, and indulge in a selection of homemade sandwiches. Guests can also enjoy sweet delicacies including Dorset spice apple cake and lemon and lavender macarons, in the Writer’s Corner.
  • The Terrace is open all year round. The relaxed, alfresco area is surrounded by stunning floral arrangements, sweeping greenery and twinkling festoon lights, making it the perfect spot to drink and dine under the stars.

Martin said: “The concept for the public areas was inspired by the building’s façade. The central section of the lobby is highly decorative, with a proliferation of columns and detailed brickwork. Two side wings, which house most of the room stock, step back from the impressive centre. The connection from Grosvenor Square to the hotel’s main entrance is striking and speaks of a VIP arrival experience.

“The Betterment has its own entrance off the Square, housed in the right-hand bay of the hotel. It is branded differently and the arrival is more seductive and dramatic. The Pine Bar is accessed through the lobby and has an intimate and secretive feel to it. All the areas are treated slightly differently as the concept was to make the building feel more human in scale. When you arrive in the space, it is about creating a language that speaks to the elegance of the architecture, but is conversant in a modern approach to the interior aesthetic.”

Jason Atherton also oversees food and beverage for the hotel’s extensive event spaces, including the impressive 500 square metre ballroom, ideal for large-scale events, weddings or cocktail receptions, with capacity for up to 700 guests. For more intimate functions, the Waterloo and Manhattan Suites can hold up to 40 guests. The hotel also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness suite.

The Biltmore Mayfair joins Habtoor Palace Dubai, LXR Hotels & Resorts, as the second property within Hilton’s collection of luxury hotels. The brand made its world debut with the opening of Habtoor Palace in August 2018.

Martin and Jo concluded: “As a luxury boutique design practice based in London, it’s been a privilege to breathe life back into such a beautiful building. The Biltmore embodies the narrative that we originally conceived and we hope the many guests feel the sense of a residential life in Mayfair, no matter how short their stay.

Biltmore

Northern Lights

Northern Lights has been creating inspiring lighting solutions for the hospitality and retail sectors since 1987.

Totalling 36,000 sq ft, our dedicated lighting manufacturing facility in Derbyshire is one of the most extensive in the UK. We take pride in our ability to design and manufacture lighting solutions for any concept, using our in-house capabilities in fabrication and finishing.

We never take for granted the amazing designers we get to work alongside, realising the often complex designs with which we are entrusted. Our profile of enviable projects completed over the last few years certainly reflects the growth and journey we have undertaken.

One such project was The Biltmore hotel in Mayfair. We worked alongside Goddard Littlefair to realise their lighting designs in the public areas and bedrooms.

We were honoured to support Goddard Littlefair in realising the decorative lighting for the fantastic schemes throughout the Hotel. There were many challenging fittings – especially the coffer lights to the restaurant area that required numerous prototypes to ensure illumination and finish were as specified.

We are thrilled with the quality of the fittings that we produced and ensured that we met the challenging delivery requirements and expectations of the client.

Other projects we have been involved in include Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Cadogan Chelsea, Corinthia London, The Old War Office, Four Seasons Mayfair, Hyatt Andaz Liverpool Street and The Lowry Manchester.

To find out more, please visit www.northern-lights.co.uk.

Biltmore

About the author

Roma Publications