Malmaison starts refurb programme with London hotel following KSL Capital Partners acquisition
The 97-bedroom hotel in Farringdon is the first property in the estate to see investment since the business was acquired by KSL Capital Partners earlier this year and kicks off a major refurbishment programme, which will see all 28 hotels improved over the next few years.
A New York theme has been applied to the hotel's new look with bedrooms featuring stripped wooden floorboards, feature wallpapers and bespoke furniture. They have also been fitted out with smart screen TVs and 'innovative' mini bars holding goods from The Grown Up Chocolate Company and bathroom amenities supplied by Anatomicals.
Restaurant
The London Malmaison will also see the launch of new New York steakhouse inspired restaurant Strip Bar & Steak, which will specialise in 'New York Strip', a cut from the short loin, from USDA Black Angus Prime grade beef which will be cut to order from between 250g and 550g and served with sides such as Mac & cheese with lobster and onion straws.
Other dishes will include Tuna mignon, Lobster curry and Strip Steak Stroganoff.
Upstairs from the basement restaurant, which includes a private dining area for 14, will be a new lounge bar offering all-day dining and drinking and providing space guest breakfasts.
Malmaison chief executive Gary Davis told BigHospitality the new concept would be unique to the London hotel and despite earlier intentions to make Malmaison Manchester's grill restaurant Smoak a standalone brand which would roll out to other properties, there were no plans to continue with that concept.
He said if brasseries in other properties need upgrading they 'will be unique concepts'.
Davis said the new look for London Malmaison was part of major plans to improve both Malmaison and Hotel du Vin properties since new owner American-based firm KSL Capital Partners bought the estate for an estimated £180m last year.
"The new ownership has enabled us to invest in the existing estate and look for expansion opportunities for both Malmaison and Hotel du Vin," he said.
