The Hoxton group has gone from strength to super strength since opening its first hotel in London’s Shoreditch back in 2006. The Hoxton Southwark, the eighth addition to its portfolio, makes a very welcome addition to the Blackfriars landscape.
Blackfriars Road was, until fairly recently, a gritty thoroughfare leading dense traffic in and out of the City of London. But a multimillion pound regeneration plan has seen the haphazard arrangement of unsightly 1960s office blocks pulled down and replaced by smart new buildings set on a tree-lined boulevard with wide cycle lanes.
Housed in a new Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands-designed building that wouldn’t look out of place in Manhattan, the 14-storey, 192-room Hoxton Southwark sports an industrial aesthetic forged through bare brick walls, concrete ceilings and large black Crittall-style windows, both in public spaces and guest rooms. An elegant, light-filled lobby, dotted with comfy chairs, statement brass lighting and potted plants, stretches one way into a bar and lounge, and the other way into ground floor brasserie Albie.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the Bowery buzz of the lower floors, top floor restaurant Seabird rocks an LA vibe. Its colonnaded, chequerboard-tiled terrace, bedecked with round tables, cushioned wicker seating, twinkling lights and lush foliage, offers far-reaching views across the south London skyline to the river, while the interior space feels satisfyingly capacious and airy for a city establishment. A moreish seafood menu draws on Iberian influences, with the restaurant offering a very impressive marble raw bar, a deliciously long and varied oyster list, and a seductive selection of biodynamic wines from some of Europe’s best small-scale producers. Heartily recommended dining choices include the charred gem lettuce and the octopus roll, which looks set to become a signature dish. §
