Set foot inside this quietly chic haven in London’s Fitzrovia, north of Oxford Street, and you immediately get a sense of why it was named 2026 London Hotel of the Year by The Sunday Times. It’s cool, confident, stylish and, above all, the design is really good. It does not look like the myriad other hotels that seem to have sprung up all over the capital in recent years and months.
It’s perhaps no surprise, given the design and interiors are the work of one of ELLE Decoration’s favourite duos, Pernille Lind and Richy Almond of Lind + Almond, who also created the enduringly brilliant Hotel Sanders in Copenhagen. With The Newman, they’ve distilled the very essence of Fitzrovia – both its history and its present – into a space that feels chic and refined.
Inspired by the local architectural mix of Victorian elements and art deco touches, Lind + Almond were also swept up in the narratives of the bohemian characters who frequented the area between the 1920s and 50s. One particularly rich source of inspiration was Nancy Cunard (1896-1965), the shipping-fortune heiress and bohemian known as much for her fabulous fashion as her vast wealth. Her penchant for oversized bangles and polka dots subtly infuse the hotel’s design throughout.
In the guest rooms, the palettes and materials are kept intentionally understated. Tones are muted and include russet reds and moss greens alongside lots of rich wood and stainless steel for a touch of art deco glamour. Bespoke furniture and built-in elements featuring sweeping curves and elegant details nod to the decadent golden age of cruise travel. The ensuites include bespoke tiles and stone-carved vanities referencing the Victorian glazed façades and ‘bubble’ balconies found just streets from the site of the hotel. The Penthouse, with its expansive roof terrace, chimney-top views and the BT Tower almost close enough to touch, has to be seen to be believed.
Add to this the bright and buzzy all-day Brasserie Angelica, Gambit Bar (London’s sexiest new basement hangout) and a spa that rejects the cold, clinical feel of many hotel-wellness offerings for something altogether warmer and more welcoming, and you are greeted with a new neighbourhood hotel charming and impressive enough to take on the big-name behemoths of the international hospitality scene. Rooms from £695 per night, thenewman.com
