The Great Northern Hotel, London’s first railway hotel, re-opens this April for the first time in almost 12 years following a comprehensive £40 million renovation programme. Occupying a prime position between King’s Cross Station and St Pancras International, the busiest rail transport hub in Europe, the privately owned Grade II listed building has been thoughtfully restored to the highest boutique hotel standards by owner-operator Jeremy Robson of Ram who comments:
“The restoration and re-opening of the Great Northern Hotel has been a dream of mine for many years. I saw the quality in the original architecture and realised what a careful renovation could contribute to the major regeneration being undertaken at King’s Cross. The hotel has an enchanting beauty and enjoys the most spectacular of locations in one of London’s most exciting neighbourhoods. I wanted to re-create something of real and lasting value; a London landmark that would serve visitors and Londoners alike.”
The Great Northern Hotel actually forms an integral part of King’s Cross station, with the signature dome of the new Western Concourse designed to fit the crescent shape of the hotel itself and is also just 18 metres away from the main Eurostar entrance to St Pancras International.
Opened in 1854
Originally designed by Lewis Cubitt, the Great Northern Hotel opened in 1854 as the first of the new generation of Victorian railway hotels. Its Italianate, classical features are textbook examples of the early Victorian period.
Reflecting its architectural heritage, the 91-bedroom hotel has been sensitively refurbished and its interior design exudes a timeless elegance with a hint of modernity. The intention has been to evoke the romance of rail travel from a bygone age and to preserve a sense of history and style. David Archer and Julie Ann Humphryes, co-founders of Archer Humphryes Architects (Hakkasan, Sans Souci Hotel Vienna), were commissioned to execute the concept and interior design of the hotel.
Leading international consultancy and construction company, Mace, acted as the hotel’s design and build contractor and also contributed to the funding of the project. Great care was taken to sympathetically refurbish the hotel’s original features and structures such as the façades, windows, lead-lined gutters, cast iron grilles and drainpipes.
Stephen Pycroft, Mace Chairman, said:
“As co-investor and contractor, I am delighted that we have played a considerable part in the restoration and transformation of such a significant London landmark. The team have excelled themselves in the challenge of restoring the hotel to its former glory.”
The furniture is all of bespoke design and hand crafted by artisans selected for their quality and provenance. The hotel has an overwhelming sense of space and light with its high ceilings, sweeping staircases, large sash windows and wide curved corridors that are hallmarks of the original architecture.
Rooms and Amenities
The 90 bedrooms employ a rich Victorian inspired colour palette and Black American Walnut complements the abundance of natural light to create a sense of tranquillity and calm.
There are three room types: Couchettes (which emulate train sleeper compartments); Wainscot (named after their walnut Wainscot panelling) and Cubitt (named after the architect Lewis Cubitt).
All rooms are well equipped with Egyptian cotton bed linen,super fast Wi-Fi, music libraries and movies, 40-inch flat screen HD Loewe TV, walk in shower, hair dryer, air conditioning, mini-fridge with free water, Malin & Goetz bathroom products and Hypnos beds with big fluffy duvets.
Room rates will start from £250, and every floor offers guests a complimentary pantry with a selection of home cooked snacks and drinks, daily newspapers and books.
Furniture and furnishings
All the furniture and furnishings are bespoke with items sourced from artisan producers for their quality and story including Fratelli Boffi (Milan) and Rothschild & Bickers. Bathroom fittings are by Lefroy Brookes. Benchmark provided furniture for the guest rooms to designs by Archer Humphryes Architects. Santa and Cole provided the chandeliers in the reception area. Paint was provided by Farrow & Ball. yoo Furnishings delivered hand-crafted, bespoke furniture, fixtures and fittings, designed by Archer Humphryes Architects, for the bedrooms and public spaces of the hotel.
Plum + Spilt Milk
90-cover first floor restaurant and 15 cover bar, presenting simple classic dishes created with seasonal British fare and sourced where possible from small independent suppliers on the Great Northern Line. The all day brasserie style menu presents a selection of classic dishes, salads and small plates. Guests can meet, drink and eat at any time and are encouraged to feel at home with beautiful, comfortable furniture, very fast Wi-Fi and plug and USB sockets by every table.
The restaurant is destined to become a neighbourhood dining room with views overlooking London’s newest public square, the King’s Cross piazza, and St Pancras International.
Set in an elegant yet informal space, daylight streams into the stunning dining room through 17, three-metre floor to ceiling sash windows, and 120 hand blown pendant lights create an ethereal atmosphere.
Great Northern Bar
The GNH Bar takes up almost the entire ground floor and opens directly into the new western concourse of King’s Cross Station and onto Pancras Road. The decadent interior features striking glass chandeliers, a central polished pewter island bar, mirrored glass ceilings inspired by French railway restaurants and a small private mezzanine lounge overlooking the bar. It will be open from early morning until late at night with soulful music and guest DJ’s. The GNH Bar has been designed to create one of the most glamorous bars in a major railway station in Europe.
The team
Owner-Operator: Jeremy Robson, Ram
Hotel Director: Marie Rodoni
Restaurants Director: Scott Sapot
Brand Director: Elise Roberts
Head Chef: Ray Patterson
Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4TB
+44 (0)20 3388 0800
GNH Building Scan at foot