With Firmdales flagship Ham Yard Hotel a year old, the biggest news were waiting for from Tim and Kit Kemp will be anything definitive on their second hotel in New York. In progress on W. 56th Street, were hoping to walk by soon to see what we can find, but in the meantime, well settle for updates at a number of London hotels: from new suites to a library and a refreshed garden space.
Given that its summer, lets start outdoors at Number Sixteen, a small townhouse hotel with 41 rooms in South Kensington. Accessed through the Conservatory, the updated garden is an all-day venue for eating and drinking. Private gardens like this are real estate gold in this part of town, so on a warm July day it should be perfect for a lazy breakfast. Everything inside the hotel is in signature Kit Kemp style, but be aware that entry-level single rooms are a teensy 8 sq m (86 sq ft).
Only marginally bigger at 44 rooms is the Knightsbridge Hotel, the location of which we dont have to explain to you. The Library you see above is one of two public spaces that guests can use (the other is the Drawing Room), mixing an abundance of colors, patterns, and textures few designers would feel comfortable bringing together in one space. Were happy to see this is a Library with actual books so many spaces, in hotels or otherwise, are designated as libraries yet barely have anything to read in them.
Heading further east and up in size, The Soho Hotel couldnt get you closer to the action of Old Compton Street and its surroundings. Down a small lane off of Dean Street, the 96-room hotel is sufficiently tucked away though. The Richmond Suites would perhaps not quite confuse you into thinking you were in that leafy suburb instead, but with a maximum of three bedrooms you can get up to 130 sq m / 1,400 sq ft.
That much space this central will cost you though: you wont get much change from £2,500 ($ 3,879) a night if you go for the full three-bedroom set up. If you feel like something with a bit more punch, perhaps the Suffolk Suites at the Haymarket Hotel will appeal, with their dark mustard and deep colored walls see below.
Here the choice is one or two bedrooms, the latter still getting you to a bigger 145 sq m / 1,555 sq ft rates are very similar to the Richmond Suites over in Soho. If you need even more space, there is of course the five-bedroom Townhouse.
[Photos: Firmdale Hotels]