Boutique hotel and member’s club in East London with a surprising country aesthetic

Shoreditch House / London / UK

Few things are more brutal than gentrification. The way an area transforms as money moves in, pushing out what was the reason why the money was interested in moving there in the first place. Once that has happened the area in question usually looses its appeal and vibe and focus is directed elsewhere. I always thought this would happen to East London and the area around Shoreditch but for some reason, there is still a vibe, an energy in this part of town. Where money and the alternative have managed to find a way to co-exist. In this, still interesting neighborhood, Soho House Group has one of their properties, the Shoreditch House.

Soho House Group has a mission, which is to create a home away from home and they really hit it home with this one. This 26-key hotel and member’s club is situated in the historic Tea Building, a converted 30s warehouse. When you first enter the reception there are two desks, one for the member’s club and gym, and the other is for the hotel. The lobby is modern, sleek and the two brass reception desks and the massive industrial-looking chandelier are setting the tone. But when you get to the corridors leading to the rooms, the look and feel is completely different. The design feels more British country rather than gritty East London, with wooden doors, two-toned painted walls and an overall vintage look.

Our room had red wooden panels and a distinct rural feel. Like we were sleeping in a converted barn somewhere in the Cotswolds. To my husband’s immense delight, there were rows of hooks on the wall, like a very functional yet good-looking design element. Our room was filled with tasteful vintage features like an old-school phone, a Robert’s radio and a chunky wooden cupboard where everything you might need was cleverly hidden in the different drawers. The bathroom followed the same design aesthetic with French bistro tiles and vintage features. All in all, a tasteful, rustic yet polished look.

One of the best features of the hotel (next to having an excellent gym) is the rooftop pool. It is something I really love when staying in a city hotel, especially like we did, at the height of Summer, to be able to cool off and relax by an outdoor pool. And when it is located on a roof in East London and being frequented by all those creative, fascinating people, it is even better.

And when you are ready to get out of those comfy sun loungers and leave the hotel, you have all the delights of East London literally right on your door step.

Welcome to Shoreditch House, located in the east part of London

The reception area is made up of two desks, one for the member’s club…

The corridor had a surprising country aesthetic that I wasn’t expecting

And the same when it comes to the room. A kind of rural vibe with the wooden panelling and a rustic look & feel.

I am hear for the vintage vibe with old school phones and a little note book for your thoughts

More and more hotels are placing radios in hotel rooms and making sure they are turned on when the guests arrive. A great way to create a homely, welcoming feeling.

To my husbands great joy, there were hooks placed along more or less all the walls.

And always when staying at a Soho House property, the mini bar is outstanding.

…you open a door in the cupboard and there is your coffee maker and kettle.

One of the main draws of the hotel is the roof top pool and bar/restaurant. A great place to spend a couple of hours in-between your explorative walks around town.

Next to the reception there is a spa (and this is the spa reception).

There is a coffee chain that seems to be expanding across London called Blank Street. They have an outlet down the road from the hotel and is well worth a visit (and they open early in the morning which is always a plus for us early birds).

When in London, it is almost mandatory for me to go to Breakfast Club to start the day.

If you need to recharge London staple GAIL’S have one of their shops in the corner of Spitalfields Market. The carrot cake is bonkers!

Dray Walk, just off Brick Lane, is lined with great places to eat and drink

Hanging with the locals at the Owl & Pussycat Pub, right around the corner from the hotel.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…want to hang with (at least what feels like) the in-crowd of East London. If you want to live like the creative class, sipping drinks by the pool, working out in a great gym and have some of that eclecticism rub off on you. you are going to love to stay at Shoreditch House.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the roof top pool. The weather wasn’t the best when we were here but still, to be able to relax and have a dip in a roof top pool when on a city break is such a treat.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to stay local. There is really no point in leaving East London when you are here. Everything you need and then some is right at your feet. Several independent places but also some of London’s best chains have outposts here, like Gail’s bakery, Blank Street Coffee my favorite, Breakfast Club. And when the hustle becomes to real, just know there is a roof top pool waiting for you back at the hotel.

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