London’s Southbank can often get a bad rap for its deluge of tourists and hive of chain restaurants and cafes that doesn’t always resonate with us Londoners. Recently, however, London’s greatest hoteliers and restauranteurs have carved a new-found presence in this now exciting part of town. With the arrival of the Bankside Hotel and Art Yard Bar & Kitchen late last year – a contemporary hotel, restaurant and artistic hub set to further revolutionise the area – never has this been more true.
Photography by Peter Jackson
Located in the artistic Blackfriars neighbourhood and occupying a stretch of ground just off The Thames, the Bankside Hotel’s neighbours include art mecca Tate Modern, cool newbie Sea Containers and the iconic OXO Tower. The hotel’s proximity to the Tate Modern in fact influenced the hotelier’s design and vision from the very beginning.
“It had to be beautiful and artistic in its own right; reflecting the landmark attractions on its doorstep with inviting interiors and a progressive, energetic ambience that would draw in the arbiters of style who set the trends in this vibrant London neighbourhood” – Bankside Hotel.
The space itself is a six-storey hotel brimming with sensational artwork and eclectic, handpicked furniture. Completed by celebrated Los Angeles-based designer Dayna Lee of Powerstrip Studio, the space truly forms Lee’s conception of “a haven for creative buzzing worker bees.” Lee attributes London’s very own creative industries and the people that who work within and also call London home as her design inspiration.
With 161 bedrooms and seven suites, the Bankside Hotel prouds itself as an artistic haven for not only its guests with a thirst for culture, art and food, but also Londoners as it celebrates its sense of place and connection to the local community. Art, community and social enterprise remains core to the space with the Bankside Hotel; notably working with The New Craftsman to showcase London’s emerging creative talents by a fascinating atelier space where people and guests are welcomed to watch such creatives at work.
Furthermore, the Bankside Hotel has joined forces with Contemporary Collective to deliver an ever-changing programme of resident makers as a celebration of other up-and-coming creatives across a range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, film, drawing, design, installations and photography. During a guest’s stay, they are able to first-hand experience such artists practice their expertise while being taken on an informative and artistic journey.
With design undoubtedly an integral part of the Bankside Hotel, food has definitely not been left ignored with the opening of the Art Yard Bar & Kitchen – an informal all-day restaurant serving the hottest cocktails, fresh seasonal food, beers and ales from local breweries and expert selection of international wines.
The restaurant is headed up by chef Lee Streeton who has focused on vibrant and healthy dishes all the while of a few London classics on the menu, too. Art Yard Bar & Kitchen is also designed by Dayna Lee to further deliver a taste of her creative design flair to all parts of this experience that is not to be missed.
Bankside Hotel and Art Yard Bar & Kitchen, 2 Blackfriars Road, Upper Ground, SE1;
banksidehotel.com
