The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

"Знания недостаточно, необходимо применение. Желания недостаточно, необходимо действие." Брюс Ли

In brief

First impression: East London cool goes south.


Staff: Young, bubbly and casual.


Food and drink: A party place that works for sober people, too.


Bed and bath: Stylish and thoughtful with a touch of humour.


The crowd: Post-work drinkers and daters, plus savvy jet-setters and media types after a well-located base.


In a nutshell: The Hoxton’s grown-up South London sister.


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Set the scene


This is a buzzing, arty hotel in almost the last place you’d expect to find one. While South London has been historically neglected, the Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, Globe and Borough Market have transformed the area’s fortunes. But, until recently, this side of the river has been lacking one thing the north bank has in abundance: cool hotels. So The Hoxton’s happening lobby and stylishly quirky rooms are particularly welcome. This outpost even has an impressive rooftop restaurant, Seabird, and is defining itself among big-name neighbours such as The Old and Young Vics, the National Theatre and the Hop Exchange, working with artists to adorn the walls and creative locals to put on events.

The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

The lobby at The Hoxton, Southwark

Robert Rieger

What’s the story?


The Hoxton has had a busy few years. The group, run by London-based Ennismore, which is also behind restaurants Tandoor Chophouse and Eggbreak, started slow with its Hoxton flagship in 2006, followed by a popular Holborn outpost in 2014. The hotels were slightly younger, cooler and less-exclusive versions of Soho House (though the members’ club has had a hand in designing some of The Hoxtons’ public spaces). Since then, there have been openings in Paris, Amsterdam, New York City, Portland and Chicago; now it’s back in its hometown with a more mature offering. The decor is more polished than ever, and the food options have also taken a step up in tone (as well as in price).

The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

The cosy bedroom at The Hoxton, Southwark

Robert Rieger

What can we expect in our room?


Five floors of an industrial building formerly known as Wedge House have been given over to rooms ranging from Shoebox to Biggy. Ours was the latter, a striking corner spot with four floor-to-ceiling windows and with a gentle retro design including some mid-century pieces, old-fashioned wooden light switches and brass accents. Although the impressive amount of space was very welcome (it truly is biggy), the room felt a tad sparse and a sofa and extra storage wouldn’t have gone amiss. Similarly, the space taken up by the huge, teal-tiled walk-in shower could easily have accommodated a bath. That said, it had everything we needed for a more than comfortable night’s stay – most importantly, a decadently large bed with a smart velvet headboard. Like the other Hoxtons, there’s no minibar (order drinks and snacks at reception and get supermarket prices for the mild inconvenience) and there are signature friendly touches (a map of cool local spots; pun-based accessories such as the ‘full of hot air’ hairdryer bag). Best of all, despite being on the main road and the first floor, the room was exceptionally quiet.


The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

The Hoxton, Southwark

Robert Rieger

How about the food and drink?


Surprisingly, for a hotel with such a sociable and hedonistic communal area, there’s a strong emphasis on non-alcoholic drinks: kombucha and low-alcohol beer are on tap, while the alcohol-free cocktails are listed before the boozy ones on the drinks menu. The ground-floor Albie is a casual (but not cheap) restaurant where you can dine at tables or on one of the many velvet sofas – the menu of Mediterranean classics includes a few dishes jumping on the pasta trend, such as a large rigatoni bake to share and crab linguine. In a zone with relatively dead nightlife, the bar is sure to be a hit – if crowded, sneak up to the mezzanine level for a more peaceful spot. However, the real showstopper here is Seabird, the airy rooftop seafood restaurant on the 14th floor is one of the best outdoor restaurants in London complete with an epic oyster selection, raw bar and a large, tropical-plant-filled terrace with stunning views across the city.

Anything to say about the service?


Staff are young, approachable and more than happy to help, making check-in (and everything else) a breeze. If you’re feeling anti-social in the morning, you can check out by dropping your keys in a bowl.

The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

The lobby at The Hoxton, Southwark

Robert Rieger

What sort of person stays here?


In-the-know fans of The Hoxton group; anyone savvy who wants to make the most of South London; and foodies drawn in by the lure of Seabird. By day, the lobby is full of freelancers making the most of the comfy chairs, free Wi-Fi and filter coffee and once evening falls, it fills up with sharp-eyed locals stopping for a drink before heading home, media types who work nearby and dates out to impress.

How does it fit into the neighbourhood?


With so many local attractions, Southwark is predominantly the playground of tourists, Londoners on cultural outings and foodies drifting over from Borough Market. This area isn’t particularly residential so lacks a real community vibe, but The Hoxton is trying to change that. Sea Containers and Bankside hotels might not be too far away but they don’t have quite the same scene.

The Hoxton, Southwark: First In

The biggy bedroom at The Hoxton, Southwark

Robert Rieger

Anything else?


Hotel rooms span floors one to six and the rest, until you reach Seabird, will soon be taken up with Working From_, a swish new co-working space with a separate entrance on the side of the building, opening at the start of 2020, with a wellness studio and member-curated events. For non-members, there’s also an apartment space on the mezzanine which will be hosting a cultural programme of talks, workshops, DJ sets, art shows and pop-up shops.

And anything you’d change?


A robe in the room, though not essential, is always a pleasure. And although The Hoxton’s free breakfast in a bag is a cute idea, it felt more like a healthy packed lunch than really filling food – best to hotfoot it downstairs for plump pastries and tasty eggs at Albie.

Is it worth staying here?


In an area packed with culture, the Hoxton is destined to be the party destination of Southwark, especially once you’ve seen the view from the roof. It’s the ideal spot for weekend jaunts in London and although there’s plenty to explore nearby, you won’t need to stray far for nightly entertainment.

Address: The Hoxton Southwark, 32-40 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8PB


Telephone: +44 207 903 3000


Prices: Doubles from £139


Website: thehoxton.com

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