Design Hotels announces the opening of Ham Yard Hotel – Firmdale Hotels’ eighth property in London, and most ambitious project to date. Together, Firmdale owners Tim and Kit Kemp have turned a three-quarter acre site in Soho into a multidimensional mecca. The purpose-built 91-room hotel and 24 residential apartment property encompasses a unique tree-filled pedestrian thoroughfare flanked by a restaurant, bar and 13 handpicked specialty stores. Comfort and entertainment options abound with a sumptuous drawing room, library, Soholistic spa, 188-seat theater, and an original 1950s bowling alley. Topping off the urban village is a leafy rooftop garden.
Using the local landscape of Soho as a reference, London-based architecture firm Woods Bagot constructed the building complementary to the scale of those in the area, while bringing a contemporary touch to one of London’s most historic entertainment districts. At the heart of the property is a new public square, home to five majestic oak trees, an impressive bronze sculpture by Tony Cragg (Turner Prize recipient, 1988) and 13 handpicked specialty shops. Brands invited to retail in the space include florist, Bloomsbury Flowers and Australian homeware & jewellers, Dinosaur Designs. The square not only gives the property a heart and centre, it opens up historic Ham Yard and Denman Place, breathing new life into this once neglected corner of Soho.
Designed by Tim and Kit Kemp with a distinct urban village feel, the expansive project will host Londoners and visitors alike. Adjacent to the lobby, a ground floor library and honesty bar welcomes guests of the hotel, and a public drawing room is located next to the restaurant, which flows out onto the courtyard. The Croc is an original 1950s bowling alley imported from Texas, named after the three driftwood crocodiles which adorn the walls.
Named after the hotel, Ham Yard Bar and Restaurant offers a menu focused around fresh, simple dishes showcasing the best of British produce. Group Executive Head Chef Robin Read masterfully pairs the likes of seared scallops and tempura courgette flowers, or sea trout with samphire and mussels. Rounding out the revolving seasonal dishes is a menu of hand rolled pastas and regional meats including Aberdeenshire sirloin and crispy duck.
Dining
The 102-seat restaurant showcases Kit Kemp’s award-winning modern take on British style with bold colorful prints and an eclectic selection of art. Floor-to-ceiling Crittall doors open directly onto the hotel’s terrace, providing an additional 50 seats for alfresco dining. Rich saffron hues feature predominantly with upholstered banquettes and walls lined with fabrics from Kit’s collection with Christopher Farr. A light installation from Martha Freud brings the space together, while a pewter-topped counter separates the restaurant from the bar area, creating two distinct spaces.
Rooms, suites & residential apartments
Each of the 91 rooms and suites and 24 residential apartments has been individually designed by Kit Kemp. Each room features dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the greenery of the courtyard or the London skyline. Bathrooms are a sophisticated mix of granite and oak, and launching at Ham Yard is Firmdale’s new amenities line, RikRak, ranging from shampoo and conditioner to pillow spray and candles. All designed by Kit Kemp and made in England, light scents of gardenia and green leaf are balanced by orange flower blossom and bergamot.
As well as a fully-equipped gym, which features a hypoxic studio for altitude training, Firmdale Hotels are launching their first Soholistic Spa. The spa uses a comprehensive range of highly advanced products and treatments created by Temple Spa to combat the strains and stresses of frequent travelling and demanding, fatiguing lifestyles. They offer the very best in anti-aging skin care, aromatherapy and anti-oxidants.
