The Dixon — London, UK
Over a century after it first opened as a Magistrate's Court, the Grade II listed building on London's Tooley Street, has been given a new lease of life as The Dixon.
Architecture firm Consarc Design Group has been careful to restore and preserve the original features of the 1905 Edwardian Baroque pile, while Rani Ahluwalia of M Studio London along with Twenty2degrees has worked to layer the building with modern touches that subtly reference the building's history.
And so, a 20ft beaded-glass chandelier, that on closer inspection, is made up of tiny handcuffs, takes centre stage in the lobby; original benches etched by former prisoners have been dipped in metal and exhibited as art; the original cell keys are displayed as a feature wall; surrealist interpretations of famous faces from Charlie Chaplin to George Orwell line the walls; and mugshots of previous petty criminals are displayed in the former courtroom, which is now the bar.
Here, against a backdrop of original Edwardian oak panels, perch at the sunken marble bar beneath the judge's original canopy and sip on a preprandial negroni before heading next door to Provisioners, the latest offering from restaurateur Clive Watson of London favourites, Blixen and Lorne.
Designed by Twenty2degrees, the all-day dining space takes its cues from European café culture with a nod to the Bauhaus era – with minimal, linear and geometrical shapes in clean, bold colours – and British industrial designer Sir Kenneth Grange, who gifted work from his personal notebook that now hangs on the walls. A lively backdrop then to enjoy the modern European menu filled with comfort dishes such as the hot brie balls served with a sweet gooseberry and chilli dip, or the the tender lamb shoulder with sun-dried tomato, courgettes and a lemon and anchovy sauce.
Upstairs, the 193 rooms – split between the original building and a newly built addition – are inviting cocoons dressed in a contemporary palette of sobering greys, bright yellows and blues, blackened steel and beehive tiles in the bathrooms, which together, makes it the perfect bolthole to come back to after exploring nearby sites like Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe. Before you head out, make sure to grab a coffee to go from the restaurant's adjoining café, which serves delicious small bites from cakes to toasted sandwiches alongside the hotel's own branded coffee called Shakedown.
ADDRESS
211 Tooley Street
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
Lauren Ho is the former travel editor at Wallpaper*. Now a contributing editor, she roams the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website, alongside various other titles. She is also the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.
-
A new limited-edition Rhodes piano and Gibson doubleneck guitar aim for the stars
The new Rhodes Mk8 Earth Edition piano and Gibson Jimmy Page EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitar revisit classic instruments at a price
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The new interior design trends we spotted at Salone del Mobile 2024
These are the interior design trends to look out for in 2024 and beyond, from soft upholstery to conversation pits and low dining
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Tiffany & Co nods to its theatrical history with a surreal new campaign
Tiffany & Co campaign ‘With Love, Since 1837’ sees Dan Tobin Smith and set designer Rachel Thomas create an offbeat set
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Crispin at Studio Voltaire, in Clapham, is a feast for all the senses
New restaurant Crispin at Studio Voltaire is the latest opening from the brains behind Bistro Freddie and Bar Crispin, with interiors by Jermaine Gallacher
By Billie Brand Published
-
Step inside Juno Omakase, London’s smallest counter dining experience
Juno Omakase, inside Los Mochis Notting Hill, offers a one-of-a-kind tasting menu in which Tokyo meets Tulum
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Revel in 007 glamour at Raffles London at The OWO
Raffles London at The OWO opens its doors after a majestic six-year restoration
By Daniel Scheffler Published
-
Rent British musician Imogen Holst’s home via Modernist Estates
Discover Imogen Holst’s home, designed by H.T. Cadbury Brown, in the seaside town of Aldeburgh, Suffolk
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Mimosa at The Langham brings French Riviera flavour to London
Mimosa, the new restaurant at The Langham hotel, London, boasts a menu and interiors infused with Riviera style
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Mayfair’s Murano offers beautiful design and incisively cooked food
Angela Hartnett’s Murano celebrates 15 years of Italian supremacy in London with a fresh look by Fabled Studio
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Dine amid old-school glamour at The Dover in London’s Mayfair
The Dover, founded by Martin Kuczmarski and designed by Quincoces-Dragò & Partners, is where 1970s Brooklyn meets classic Italian charm
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Morchella, in Clerkenwell, serves Mediterranean classics and Old World wine
Morchella restaurant and wine bar brings finely crafted cosy chic to a former bank near Exmouth Market, London
By Billie Brand Published