The London Edition, London
1 March 2015
Words: Gareth Rees Image: The London Edition
Opened in 2013, The London Edition is the result of a partnership between Marriott International, the hotel group also responsible for The Istanbul Edition and The Miami Beach Edition, and Ian Schrager, the hotelier widely credited with inventing the boutique hotel with the opening of Madison Avenue’s Morgans in 1984. The 173-room property is housed in a glorious Georgian building – formerly the Berners Hotel from 1909 to 2006 – on Fitzrovia’s Berners Street, a short stroll across Oxford Street from London’s Soho neighbourhood.
Schrager has managed to retain the historical spirit of the building while infusing the hotel with thoroughly modern chutzpah. The stylish but cosy rooms and suites, replete with wood-panelled walls and floors, sensual faux fur throws, George Smith furniture and Hendrik Kersten photographs in retro gilt frames, are distinctly modern. Meanwhile, the reservation-only oak-panelled Punch Room bar and the Berners Tavern restaurant, with its modern British menu overseen by celebrity chef Jason Atherton, add a touch of timeless opulence.
editionhotels.com/London