THE HOTEL
The property, an amalgamation of 11 separate periodic townhouses that opened in 2022, is in South Kensington, about a five-minute walk from Gloucester Road Tube Station. The concept is a hybrid of boutique hotel, apartment-style living and private members’ club, with overnight guests – called ‘residents’ – invited to access all the spaces enjoyed by members. Rooms – or Club Flats – can be booked for anything from a single night to an extended stay.
During the properties’ conversion, rebuilding disruption was kept to a minimum, with those changes that were made using eco-aware materials, where feasible.
THE CHECK-IN
The hotel’s eccentric and eclectic style is immediately noticeable on entering the main lobby, with its animal-themed designs and monkey statues guarding the elevators’ doors. A quiet reception desk is tucked into a corner of the hotel, next to a small shop. Two friendly staff – called ‘House Jacks’ who are also are available 24/7 for any questions – welcomed me. I arrived an hour or so after the check-in time of 15.00 and my keys were ready. Online check-in is also available via the Other House app, from which you can download a mobile key.
THE ROOM
My apartment – one of the property’s Greater Flats category- was a duplex room, a two-level living space with a steepish wooden staircase leading to the bedroom area.
On the ground floor was the bathroom, open-plan kitchen area and spacious dining room. The main space’s wooden floor featured a centrally-placed rug and classy British-made furniture, such as several comfy chairs and a jade-coloured couch. The Other House says the decision to buy local minimises its overall carbon footprint.
An ultra-modern kitchen included an electric hob, toaster, Opal coffee machine and Breville kettle, crockery, dishwasher (with tablets) and washing up liquid – everything and more you need for a one-night stay.
Two large bottles of Other House branded water in recycled bottles were supplied.
The bathroom featured Other House branded “vegan” body wash, shampoo and conditioner.
THE FACILITIES
The “private club” area of the property is downstairs from the lobby area and features two members’ lounges. The Keeping Room is a large, quiet and refined library-style area which for some reason reminded me of the opening episode of Around the World in 80 days, where in the Reform Club in Pall Mall Michael Palin maps out his Phileas Fogg-style ambitious trip. It is a quiet and darkened roomy enclave, with low-slung furniture, heavy drapes, chairs and sofas, tables and several booths and nooks and crannies that offer quiet spaces for private or work time.
This leads to another relaxation room, Hogsmire, an interior open-space atrium with trees that was flooded with natural light during my afternoon visit.
Hogsmire feels like a world away from the dark panels of the Meeting Room, a cross between a courtyard and a secret garden.
A full bar serves creative cocktails like a pineapple and salted caramel caipirinha, a tea-infused negroni and spicy palomas, which you can sip when looking into the Vitality Pool. The pool is the central feature of The Other Space, which has a wellness studio, a vitality pool and an open-all-hours gym.
Treatments for the body include a sports massage and a couples massage, while for some mental de-stressing you can sign up for ‘sound healing – think chimes, gongs and crystals – or an Emotional Freedom Technique, based around repetitive tapping for stress, trauma and phobias. As if to underline the general sense of measured quirkiness throughout the property, A 60-minute tarot card reading is also available.
You can use The Other House app to book appointments or see how busy the gym is at any given time. It can also be used to book two small rooms, Mervyn Peake (named after a British writer, artist, poet) and Francis Bacon (Lord Chancellor in 1619 England under King James I), which are available to hire for meetings, events or private dining.
The property also hosts several curated events, such as whisky and wine tastings, supper clubs and industry talks and Sunday yoga sessions.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
The wonderfully informal street café-style Other Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and brunch. A superb hearty breakfast featured an extensive line-up of fruits, yoghurts, berries, nuts and pastries, along with the usual range of hot items including eggs cooked in any style.
A sexy speakeasy-style bar, The Owl and Monkey, attracted a lively and dressed-to-impress Saturday evening crowd, sipping speciality cocktails like Monkey See, Monkey Do (rum, sake, clarified milk, pineapple juice, white-chocolate covered raisins).
A limited menu featured beautifully presented small plates: I had a delicious combination of halloumi bites, a Middle East Meze and a board of British cheeses.
Small plates are also available in Hogsmire.
THE VERDICT
This is a part-hotel, part-apartment stay that feels more like an invitation to an exclusive private members’ club. Classy, elegant but reassuringly informal, The Other House provides a super-comfortable stay in the heart of one of London’s most desirable areas. Twenty-four hours is not enough to make use of the many facilities and spaces, or to fully take in all the eye-catchingly designed interior features and local art elements which draw their inspiration from the area’s “history and eccentricity”.
THE DETAILS
The Other House South Kensington, 15-17 Harrington Gardens, London SW7 4JJ. otherhouse.com
Nightly rates start from around £296.
by Steve Hartridge
