Firmdale hotels were established in 1985 by Kit and Tim Kemp. Their company was an early innovator of the concept of boutique hotels. The Kemps' hotel and restaurant business has expanded substantially since its inception and they have often built hotels on unusual sites, such The Charlotte Street Hotel in South Kensington, which was built on the site of a former dental supplies warehouse, the Covent Garden Hotel, which was a former hospital, and the Soho, which was built on the site of a former multistory car park.
The Charlotte Street Hotel is situated in the media neighborhood just north of Soho. It is a minute's walk to Soho Square and the theatre district. This hotel has a "Bloomsbury Group" theme and features art and decor from this period. This hotel offers: 24 hour room service, concierge, valet, air conditioning, gym, private meeting and dining rooms, guest drawing room, restaurant, bar, DVD library and screening room. The hotel has 52 bedrooms and suites each, with an individual design, decorated in a contemporary English style. Each room includes; high-speed wireless access, flat screen LCD TV and DVD/CD player, mini-bar, writing desk, Tivoli Radio, Miller Harris Bath products, personal safe and two-line telephone with voice mail. The hotel also has an open-plan penthouse suite, four loft suites and two one bedroom suites. Rates for a queen room are $363 per night and a penthouse suite $1,500 per night (as of September 2010). Afternoon tea also is served here and can be taken in the Drawing Room, which features a fireplace and original art by Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant and Roger Fry and the "Oscar" restaurant on-site.
Charlotte Street Hotel
15-17 Charlotte Street
London, United Kingdom W1T 1RJ
011-44-20-7806-2000
firmdale.com
Number Sixteen is a mid-Victorian white stucco terrace house and is located in South Kensington, just a few minutes walk from the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, Harrods, Knightsbridge and Brompton Cross shopping. The hotel features: a private garden, two guest drawing rooms, 24-hour room service, valet, concierge and high-speed wireless Internet access. The hotel has 42 bedrooms that are all individually designed and decorated in contemporary English style. The rooms include; a mini-bar, flat screen LCD television, Tivoli Radio, writing desk, Miller Harris Bath products, personal safe and two-line telephone with voice mail The hotel does not have a restaurant but Afternoon Tea is served in the drawing rooms, library, conservatory and garden. Rates for a single room are $190 per night and for a deluxe room $444 per night (as of September 2010).
Number Sixteen
16 Sumner Place
London, United Kingdom SW7 3EG
011-44-20-7589-5232
firmdale.com
The Covent Garden Hotel is situated in the theater district and is only a short walk from The Royal Opera House and Soho. The hotel has 58 bedrooms and suites, which include a four-poster bed room, loft suites and terrace suites. The guest areas in the hotel include a wood-panelled drawing room with a stone fireplace and quirky furniture. There is also Tiffany's Library available for guests, which has a fireplace and honor bar. On-site there is the "Brasserie Max" which has an a la Carte menu, breakfast menu, bar and cocktail menu and serves Afternoon Tea. There is a private screening room which can accommodate up to 47 guests and has leather seating by Poltona Frau and there is a gym and beauty room available for guests. Rooms feature; high-speed wireless access, flat screen LCD TV and DVD/CD player, mini-bar, writing desk, Tivoli Radio, Miller Harris Bath products, personal safe and two-line telephone with voice mail. Rates for a queen room are $380 per night and for a loft suite $1,895 per night (as of September 2010).
Covent Garden Hotel
10 Monmouth Street
London, United Kingdom WC2H 9HB
011-44-20-7806-1000
firmdale.com
