Raffles London at The OWO
It’s been more than half a decade in the making. And now, the first branch of luxe Singaporean-born hotel group Raffles will open in London this spring. And not just anywhere in London; in the landmark Old War Office building on Whitehall. All sorts of delights are promised to fill the cavernous interiors, from a chef’s table restaurant by Mirazur star Mauro Colagreco to an extensive Guerlain spa. So even if you don’t have the cash to splash on a room, you can still get a taste of the opulent interiors and epic views over Horse Guards.
From £1,100, theowo.london
No. 42 Margate by GuestHouse
You don’t need a reason to visit Margate; between the boutiquey galleries, wine bars and vintagey Dreamland amusement park, this artsy Kent town is already a known capital of seaside cool. But No.42 will give you a reason to linger a bit longer. With a handy location right in the heart of town, a waterfront cafe and rooftop bar — not to mention 21 coastal-chic rooms — it’s set to breathe new life into the 1888-constructed build in which it is set. The summertime opening will be bang on for beach season; best snag that booking now.
From £155, guesthousehotels.co.uk/no-42-margate
The Three Horseshoes, Somerset
For food lovers, there’s perhaps no more delicious rural getaway this year. Pro chef Margot Henderson’s new pub with rooms in Batcombe is a mere skip from trendy food towns Bruton and Frome, and promises to be a destination in its own right. The 17th-century inn has undergone a thoughtful restoration and menus will showcase Henderson’s unfussy but elevated cookery that puts quality produce centre-stage. We’re counting down the days until we can tuck into the whole Dover sole with butter, followed by lemon posset.
From £TBC, thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk
The BoTree London
Spotted that big shiny building taking form on Marylebone Lane? That’s The BoTree, slated to throw its doors open in July. With a location straddling Marylebone, Mayfair and Fitzrovia, the hotel by Bond Street station promises to channel the character of all three neighbourhoods via colourful-yet-sleek decor and all-day hang out spaces. For Londoners, the prime draw will be the multiple restaurants and onsite club with regular live music performances. You can hit the nearby Oxford Street shops hard on a Saturday afternoon; then party until the wee hours with a leading guest DJ.
From £500, thebotree.com
Birch, Selsdon
A sequel to the hip Cheshunt original, this new ‘branch’ of Birch, 30 minutes south of London, will have a very similar feel when it opens this spring. That is, a mash up between traditional hotel, members’ club and creative community social hub. Bedrooms will channel nature, with furniture made of wood from the grounds and a carbon-negative cork floor. Two restaurants and three bars — including signature eaterie Elodie — means there’s no need to head out, while an art deco-inspired lido and regular creative masterclasses keep everyone (including kids) occupied.
From £TBC, birchcommunity.com
Mollie’s Manchester
As you may have seen, Manchester’s having a moment. And this new hotel opening might be enough to draw even the proudest Londoner for a weekend. Set in the landmark mid-century Granada Studios on Quay Street, it’ll be 100,000sq ft of cool with retro diner-style restaurant, events spaces, deli and WFH zone. Rooms, meanwhile are ‘budget-luxe’, so they look great without costing loads. And as if all that’s not enough, it’ll also play host to the first Manchester branch of Soho House, with swimming pool and club.
From £110, mollies.com/manchester
The Barnsdale, Rutland
England’s tiniest county is top of the radar this March with the opening of The Barnsdale. Operated by the same team as Hampton Court favourite The Mitre and The Retreat at Elcot Park, the hotel will be set in a rejuvenated centuries-old hunting lodge and show a balance of contemporary style and respect for heritage. Given its sister properties employ bold colour blocking and copper tubs in bedrooms, our money’s on it looking pretty darn stylish. We’ll see you in the airy onsite 1760 Brasserie.
From £120, barnsdalerutland.com
Mandarin Oriental Mayfair
This spring Mandarin Oriental is expanding its reach in the capital, launching a new property on Hanover Square to twin with the Knightsbridge original. Like the west London outpost, the carefully chosen W1 location is placed moments from top-tier shopping and restaurants (neighbours include Issey Miyake and Pollen Street Social). But also similar to the original, the real draws lie within. Design is by the agency behind Paris’s Pompidou Centre; Korean-American chef Akira Back will be running the restaurant. Meanwhile, the spa will feature a 25m swimming pool.
From £750, mandarinoriental.com
Treehouse Manchester
Much like the London location that launched in 2019, Treehouse Manchester will put you in the thick of city life — Selfridges, Manchester Arena and the restaurants of Deansgate are all at your fingertips. Incorporating reclaimed and recycled materials, using harvested rainwater and furnished with living walls, the hotel is also aiming to make stays greener. An experienced kitchen team, helmed by Fat Duck alumnus Mary-Ellen McTague, is ready to shake up Manchester’s dining scene with two new in-house restaurants, plus a bar overlooking the rooftops.
From £199, treehousehotels.com/manchester
The Bracken Hide Hotel, Isle of Skye
If you love the idea of the wilderness — but don’t like to rough it — this newbie on the spectacular Scottish Isle of Skye should tick your boxes. Opening March 31, The Bracken Hide Hotel is a clutch of Hobbit house-style sustainable timber cabins; with the added luxury of underfloor heating, room service and plush furnishings. In the central ‘hub’, a restaurant serving 26-day-aged Highland beef is accompanied by a Japanese whisky bar. There’s even a Nordic sauna. When you’re finally ready to venture out into the landscapes, the team can sort anything from coastal kayaking to archery.
From £150, brackenhide.co.uk
Gallivant Littlestone Beach, Kent
After years of amassing a loyal following in Camber Sands, coastal-cool The Gallivant is opening a second property, this time in nearby Romney Bay. Fringed by protected sand dunes right on the shoreline, the cosy 12-bedroom sequel will come with lots of lovely extras, including yoga studio, library and members’ bar. Of course, the main reason to visit is the beach; so there’ll also be a gazebo, outdoor dining area and 1920s nostalgic decor that elevates the Edwardian history of the original building.
From around £250, thegallivant.co.uk
The Chelsea Townhouse, London
It’s all change in Sloane Square, as the former Draycott Hotel is reborn as The Chelsea Townhouse. The three red-brick townhouses that form the property were acquired by Cadogan at the end of 2022, who have plans to give it a full restoration and a relaxed, residential feel. Patterned floor tiles and quirky wall art are all on this agenda, though the opening dates is still to be confirmed — watch this space for more.
From £TBC, draycotthotel.com
Cowley Manor Experimental Group, Cotswolds
Strictly speaking this isn’t a brand new hotel, as Cowley Manor has been a country house staple for years. But it’s recently joined the Experimental Group — the minds behind uber-stylish haunts in Ibiza, Verbier, Venice and London — so it’s about to get a seriously fabulous makeover. Local chef Dominic Hargreaves will head up the restaurant, and the drinks programme will no doubt sizzle, as per the brand’s USP (Experimental started with a Paris cocktail bar). After one too many the night before, blow out cobwebs in the estate’s 55-acres grounds or at the spa.
From £TBC, experimentalgroup.com
room2 Belfast
room2 isn’t a hotel; it’s a ‘hometel’. This quirky set of three — soon four — hotels prides itself on having everything you need to make yourself at home for a longer stay, from coffee roastery to healthy snacks and greenery-filled work spaces. Great style, too. The collection’s first property outside of the south of England, room2 Belfast will open this July. But it’s only the beginning; look out for further locations gracing the cities of York, Glasgow and Manchester over the next few years.
From £TBC, room2.com/belfast
Ruby Zoe London
Design-forward — but never bank-breaking — the Ruby collection of hotels combines restful rooms with communal spaces that make you want to stay up late and party (hello, 24-hour bar). Its second UK location, opening in London’s Notting Hill, is inspired by the Caribbean influences of the area and promises fun perks such as free guitar rental and a shop with organic goodies. That said, unwanted frills are done away with — exactly why the prices are going to be fair despite the central location.
From £TBC, ruby-hotels.com
The Mole Resort, Devon
Easy striking distance from Exmoor National Park, sandy west-facing beaches and historic Exeter, this new central Devon stay is styling itself as a perfect getaway for active types. Onsite golf course, indoor and outdoor pool and tennis courts — plus cycling, croquet and football — will keep you busy from the day it opens in June. Cool lodges will be comfy enough for the whole family, including Fido (the Mole is dog-friendly, too).
From £80, themoleresort.co.uk
The Tempus, Northumberland
A new spring addition to the historic-yet-funky Charlton Hall Estate in Alnwick, 15-bedroom The Tempus is a playful contemporary space that’s taking its cues from Alice in Wonderland. Opulent soft furnishings, eclectic colourful prints and whimsical floral detail all reinforce the theme, while woods and neutrals keep the atmosphere feeling grounded. If you were looking for a reason to book a holiday to explore Northumberland’s castles and beaches this summer, you now have it.
From £285, charltonhall.co.uk/thetempus
The Peninsula London
After a long wait, The Peninsula is finally taking root in London. The location is enviable: right on the tip of Hyde Park Corner. Expect all the signature slick service, spacious suites and chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces that come as standard with a Peninsula stay, plus plenty of only-in-Britain details (wisteria-clad courtyard, art pieces from The Royal Drawing School and staff dressed in Jenny Packham). Meanwhile lauded chef Claude Bosi is heading the rooftop restaurant, Brooklands — meaning a Michelin star is almost certainly on the horizon.
From £TBC, peninsula.com
100 Princes St, Edinburgh
Set in the headquarters of the former Overseas League, 100 Princes St will be The Red Carnation Hotels’ group first Scottish property. And while decor will be a hat-tip to the Scottish adventures and explorers who hung around here in days past, don’t expect stuffiness. Interiors are inspired by Alexander McQueen — there’s a custom-made tartan from Araminta Campbell — while an epic ‘wine wall’ will showcase both vinos and Scottish whiskies. The views from the rooms towards Edinburgh Castle shouldn’t be half bad, either.
