RAM-led consortium to re-open Great Northern Hotel at King's Cross next month
The 91-bedroom hotel, designed by architect Lewis Cubitt in 1854, was London's first railway hotel, but it closed 12 years ago when improvement work started at St Pancras International and King's Cross.
Now, after three years of development work and restoration, it will re-open next month under the direction of hotel director Marie Rodoni, featuring new-look bedrooms, a 90-cover restaurant called Plum & Spilt Milk and a bar, which will open out onto the western concourse of King's Cross.
Bedrooms, which offer rates starting at £250 a night, have been designed under three styles - Couchettes, which emulate train sleeper compartments; Wainscot, named after their walnut Wainscot paneling and Cubitt, named after the architect who designed the building.
All rooms will be equipped with Hypnos beds, 40-inch flat screen Loewe TVs, walk-in showers and more. Guests will have access to Wi-Fi, music, movie and audio book libraries in rooms with each floor also offering a complimentary pantry where they will be able to help themselves to snacks, drinks, newspapers, magazines and use of a USB printer.
Dining and drinking
The restaurant, run by the hotel's restaurants director Scott Sapot, overlooks the King's Cross piazza and will open from breakfast through to dinner. Its menu, created by head chef Ray Patterson, formerly of Patterson's of Mayfair, will feature classic British and European dishes such as leek and Stilton tart, spring lamb hot pot with minted peas and broad bean salad, tarte tatin and chocolate fondant.
A 100-cover bar, called the Great Northern Bar will be situated on the ground floor and will open from 7am daily to serve breakfast and an all day bar menu alongside drinks. Inspired by French railway restaurants it will feature glass chandeliers and mirrored glass ceilings and has the ambition of being 'one of the most glamorous bars in a major railway station in Europe'.
'Realisation of a dream'
Robson's RAM was selected in 2009 to redevelop the Grade II Listed building as a modern boutique hotel with construction firm Mace brought in to renovate the building and architects Archer Humphryes commissioned to execute the concept and interior design of the hotel.
Robson said the restoration and re-opening of the hotel had 'been a dream' for many years that was now being realised.
"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," he said. "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.”
