In full bloom                  (Reviews - Hotels)

For business or leisure guests who prefer an on-off switch to the core of London the recently refurbished Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street Hotel could be just the stay. Sat Bal finds out. 14 Apr’09

The unwieldy name signifies a venue that’s loaded with transformation, starting with a name change (formerly the Marlborough) and culminating in a recent £25m revamp. The changes have been implemented across the board from the 4-star hotel's 174 spacious rooms to the business facilities which include six new plush conference spaces. Suites comprise 87 Superior and Queen bedrooms, 84 Deluxe rooms and three Luxury Suites

The Bloomsbury freely embraces an association with the literary and artistic figures of  the 1920s Bloomsbury set which comprised luminaries such as Virginia Woolf, E.M. Forster and economist John Maynard Keynes.

Today, it’s easy to see why the Bloomsbury would resonate with London’s coterie of artists, novelists and creatives. The hotel’s location near Covent Garden, so close to London's museums and theatres land, is one good reason. Another is the tactile finish of the interiors and curious objets d’art which give the hotel a sheen that is at times more 5-star than 4-star. The luxury touches combined with intelligent technology also extends the hotel’s fan base to the demanding corporate sector.

The check-in experience starts in the sober environment of a lobby which takes its colour scheme from a palette of dark and muted browns and granite effects.

A dark, filmic art installation pays homage to Virginia Woolf, displaying the manuscript of her Mrs Dalloway to striking effect.

                    Deluxe studio suite

The versatile use of materials is the cue to a design philosophy that pervades the rest of the hotel. An immediate example lies in the lobby’s mutation into the restaurant and bar areas where the sensible beige space gives way to a more sultry cocoon of deep leather chairs and spotlit bronze leather wallscreen. The bar gets more adventurous with its vibrant gold velour sofas, innovative chairs and walls featuring contemporary art.

Unfortunately the restaurant (headline pic) was closed during our visit, however the outsized slender vases, deep-padded chairs and discrete foliage set the imaginary scene for a dining experience of rump of lamb with cumin and aubergine caviar and rosemary pommes anna (£16.50) with an accompanying chilled white Trimbach Gewurztraminer. The menu celebrates British dishes and head chef Redmond Hayward insists on using only the finest seasonal British ingredients.


Upstairs, our Deluxe studio suite featured its own innovative design ingredients with a padded brown leather wall framing the large bed while dark wooden beams focused attention on the suite's unusual ceiling curve. 

The overall appearance of the suite is of a rather lavish loft apartment with windows  looking out onto the neighbouring British Museum.

The size is very reasonable and a dressing area is sensibly situated away from the main suite area. The only quibble here was that there was no plug socket near the dressing area mirror which could mean mild trauma if a girl needs to plug in her ghds for an emergency styling session.   

The suite's dark browns change to stark black in the bathroom which sports polished black Sicilian marble and accommodates power shower and a sunken bath.

Laptop use is easy thanks to the complimentary wireless internet and a large modern flat screen TV broadcasts the entertainment.

Entertainment of a different kind came courtesy of a pod chair suspended from the ceiling. Its gentle oscillation offers a carefree way to plot one's next move on London's hectic work-play schedule and further enhances the suite's "loft" feel. The slanted structure of the suite gives the stay an odd insulation from the bustle of central London, but a welcome one.

Conferences & Meetings

The Bloomsbury's meeting spaces  accommodate up to 300 for meetings and events. for up to 300, beautifully

These flexible spaces feature luxe fabric cladding and shimmering metallic finishes.

Unique to London, each room is furnished with  full HD video and data projection, with built-in Blu-Ray equipment for high impact video presentations.

Private dining space

Intelligent technology simplifies everything with intuitive touch-screen control systems in each room. The hotel's AV technician is on hand to help ensure smooth delivery of presentations.

Folio Room
The Folio Room holds 250 diners or 120 cabaret style. A spacious break-out area has its own private bar.

The self-contained Meetings Area allows discreet private dining, theatre-style for up to 70 or boardroom for up to 40.

Each room benefits from built-in programme sound from any source to give impact to  presentations.

Technology

All meeting and conference rooms are equipped with the latest presentation and communication technology. Dedicated staff provide support to event organisers.
Facilities include:
• Cinematic Projection Screens
• Piped Music
• Fully TV linked
• HD Video Conferencing
• AMX-finger-touch panel control systems
• In-built PA audio systems

Business services

• Video conferencing
• Mobile phone rental
• In-room modem connection, Internet access, fax
• Complimentary web printing service available throughout the hotel
• Business centre

Address

9-13 Bloomsbury Street , London, WC1B 3QD