At the foot of Regent’s Park, beside the exclusive neighbourhood of Marylebone and just a stone’s throw from central London and Primrose Hill, the four-star Meliá White House is a historic hotel that has recently undergone quite the transformation.
Built in 1936, it was originally launched as The White House Luxury Apartments, when it became known as one of the most well-established and prestigious addresses in London and boasted an impressive entrance and a raft of exclusive facilities, including a restaurant, swimming pool, squash courts, bar, delicatessen, newsagents, chemist, hairdresser, valet, and even a rooftop garden.
In 1999, when Meliá Hotels and Resorts took over the impressive art deco building, it began its current incarnation as Meliá White House. Today, it still comprises 112 apartments, along with 581 rooms and suites, three meeting rooms, a restaurant and a bar – all of which have enjoyed a modern makeover to the tune of a cool £40 million.
The hotel is a flagship property for Meliá Hotels International and the iconic 1930s Grade II listed building still preserves its architectural value as a prime example of art deco style in late 1930s – but the renovation project has brought the interiors bang up to date whilst artfully respecting its history and heritage.
Architectural and interior project team, ASAH were behind the impressive renovation, reimagining the stately space to create a more modern and luxurious version of itself, and the results are rather impressive.
Hotel
One of the major changes to the hotel post-renovation is its new sense of flow; each space has been designed to be part of the next, with no doors or barriers in the public spaces so that guests can move seamlessly from one space to another.
White marble flooring ensures a grand and majestic entrance way, while the ground floor is filled with plenty of natural light to enhance its sense of spaciousness. Walnut wood fixtures, plush soft furnishings and stylish accents have injected an opulent yet contemporary feel, with lighting and furniture sourced from world-renowned design teams to ensure an extra sense of flair.
The delicate fabrics used in the bar are all Rubelli velvets, chosen in a wine colour that was inspired by London’s love of theatre and musicals.
The hotel really excels with its Spanish-style hospitality very much at the forefront, with guests welcomed with a smile and attended to warmly throughout every phase of their stay. These are staff who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs, and for whom no request is too much, and it all adds wonderfully to the overall experience.
Rooms and suites
The hotel’s biggest transformation can be seen across its 581 rooms, which include both deluxe double and premium options, as well as The Level premium rooms, family rooms and suites.
I stayed in The Level Premium room, a cleverly designed space with spectacular city views from the windows, which flood the room with abundant natural light. A sprawling 269.1ft² in size, it offered plenty of space to spread out in and relax, with a comfortable reading space featuring a sofa, armchair and coffee table – so it’s perfect if you’ll be spending a fair amount of time in your room and perhaps don’t want to venture down into the communal spaces in your leisure time, preferring complete privacy instead.
The colour scheme is muted, with neutral walls and elegant wood touches, but statement furnishings like the orange velvet chair, and the bold artworks adorning the walls, added a sense of fun and liveliness.
Highlights of the room included a sumptuous king-size bed with a plush DreamMaker mattress, a Nespresso machine for that morning caffeine hit, and a chic marble bathroom with an indulgent rainfall shower. And The Level guests also get some extra luxuries, including The Level bathrobe and slippers, lavish Rituals toiletries and complimentary bottles of water, as well as an evening turndown service thrown in to sweeten the deal.
Guests booking this room can also enjoy exclusive access to the The Level Lounge and The Level experience. A private check in, the option for a late check out where availability allows, and the Travel Light service, which allows repeat The Level guests to travel lighter by leaving some of their belongings in the hotel for their next stay, are nice (and handy) added bonuses.
Food and drink
The Level experience guests can head to the Level Lounge – part of the recent renovation project and one of the key spaces that was reimagined, bringing a bright, contemporary and thoughtfully curated feel to the 80-seat premium space. The Level captures the true art of soulful living, and features plush caldero velvet sofas to relax and unwind on and aquamarine washed wood features in a nod to its Mediterranean inspiration. It comprises laid-back social spaces where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a drink or two with family and friends, and there are also some stylish co-working areas if you need to log on for a few hours and get some work done, with iMacs and high-speed internet available for guests to use.
Here, you can enjoy a mouth-watering breakfast in a more secluded and elegant setting, with coffee, tea, soft drinks and pastries also available to be indulged in throughout the day. At sunset, there’s an open bar serving tapas and premium brand drinks.
Meliá White House’s in-house restaurant is called Arado, and serves up a menu designed with Spanish flair, curated to bring you the traditional flavours of the Mediterranean and featuring classic dishes with a local twist. Open breakfast and all-day dining, dinner highlights include the delicious grilled halloumi, which is served with a rocket salad, fried eggplant, dukkha buts and a lemon and honey dressing, and the super succulent rib-eye steak, which is served with baby potatoes and a selection of grilled vegetables. For dessert, why not treat yourself to the gorgeous gnocchi with pistachio filling, which comes with a rather luxurious hot melted chocolate dip? The perfect way to end any meal.
The ‘35 Bar and Lounge serves up a fusion of British and Spanish cuisine in a spacious and modern environment, which is perfect for a relaxed morning coffee or a light bite in the evening with friends. Tapas-style starters like the Iberian ham croquettes, garlic prawns and patatas bravas make for great sociable sharing snacks alongside a beverage or two from the extensive drinks menu, while if you’re looking for something more substantial then mains like the beef short ribs, pan fried seabass and the salmon teriyaki will all no doubt go down a treat. There’s also a selection of sandwiches and burgers to choose from, and some sweet treats like the apple crumble or chocolate churros to round things off with if you’re feeling indulgent.
To do
The hotel is home to a dedicated fitness centre which is open to guests 24 hours a day. It also excels when it comes to events spaces and business facilities, offering a choice of versatile meeting rooms and spaces which are ideal for any type of event or convention. There are nine multi-purpose event rooms for all kinds of events and banquets – including weddings – which can be hired out and equipped to meet your needs. All rooms enjoy access to a high-speed Wi-Fi connection, with the latest audio-visual technology, including plasma screens, projectors and built-in screens, to ensure that all types of events run smoothly.
The hotel is located just across from London’s iconic Regent’s Park – land originally owned by the Crown after the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s, when it was used as a hunting ground by King Henry VIII. Today, it’s considered one of the prettiest and most opulent parks in the capital, and is now home to attractions including the London Zoo, Queen Mary’s Gardens, an outdoor theatre, sports pitches and various statues, memorials and fountains.
Oxford Street and Regent Street are just a stone’s throw away and can be comfortably reached on foot. The hotel is also just a two-minute walk from Great Portland Street tube station, and with Euston Station and Kings Cross also close by, you’re well connected with all of London’s major hot spots.
In a nutshell
With its unique location, award-winning food offering and impeccable service, the Meliá White House is the unsung hero of the London luxury hotel scene, and while it may lack the wow factor of the Mayfair heavyweights, it does rival in terms of facilities and amenities.
Factbox
Rates for a standard room start from £160 per night.
Address: Albany St, London NW1 3UP
Phone: 020 7391 3000
Website: melia.com
