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Belfast Telegraph

Travel review: Sleek and arty east London hotel a win for the discerning traveller

So staying in a hotel there is a novelty to me, never mind landing somewhere as sleek, hip and trendy as the art'otel London Hoxton. It's a newly-built 26-storey luxury hotel, just a short trip from the centre of London by Tube. Its exact location at the intersection of Old Street and Great Eastern Street is described as 'the cool hub of London's urban art scene'. The international art'otel brand, owned by Radisson, is all about taking the liveliness of a city's art scene and blending that with the luxurious stylings of a high-end hotel to create a premium experience. There is an artist in residence whose works are on display, and during our visit it's Sylver, a queer jeweller, fashion designer, filmmaker and artist. Their works include sculptural body adornment and jewellery, and it's great to soak up Sylver's artworks while exploring the hotel's communal areas. My Hertford-dwelling friend and I are fortunate enough to have bagged a complimentary one-night bed and breakfast stay for November 30. Otherwise, when I price a Saturday night stay for June 28, it costs about £325 for a double alone, or £381 if you have breakfast as well. But you can save 15% by becoming a Radisson Rewards member. I've travelled just after we've had a catastrophic flood in my house back in Belfast (it was Black Friday in more ways than one), and the touch of luxury provided by art'otel Hoxton turn out to be just the comfort and distraction I need. We arrive late in the evening, after a day filled with a late lunch at a Korean fried chicken joint in Soho, then later, an evening of uproariously funny (but reasonably-priced) entertainment at Comedy Store Leicester Square. From Leicester Square to Old Street station is a straightforward trip, and once out of Old Street, a short walk takes you to the hotel. A brightly-lit beacon, it's impossible to miss. We approach from the front and could see the Brush Grand Cafe on the ground floor but took a while to figure out that the main entrance was just around the corner. The person on reception (which is on the first floor) who we checked in with was super-friendly and welcoming. The decor in reception is the result of a collaboration with street artist D*Face, described as an icon of the East London art scene, and designer of album covers for artists like Christina Aguilera and Blink 182. The hotel's description of his work as 'characterised by bold colours, daring themes and a critical look at contemporary culture' is a pretty good summary of the comic strip-style murals combining art, design and graffiti on display. We have a quick look around, and ooh and aah at the artwork, before getting to explore our room. We're on the 10th floor, well away from any street noise. It has a welcome letter from general manager Axel Krueger, and an invitation to 'live art in a way only art'otel can offer.' There are a few pages of sketch paper which we should consider as a blank canvas 'to capture moments of inspiration, record your journey or simply let your imagination flow'. The room is streamlined and bright but really cosy, with the twin beds we requested. In keeping with the art theme, there are shelves with objets d'art and art books, and everything is curated with flair and attention to detail. I love the glamorous, funky decor, and I'm impressed by the IperEspresso machine. Because, on arriving into a new hotel room, my first act is to check out the tea and coffee facilities, and these don't disappoint. There are coffee capsules for the machine and some coffee bags, plenty of choice in tea bags, and some Border cookies. You've guessed it, I love detail, so I appreciate the luxurious Kevin Murphy-branded toiletries in the bathroom. The room's grey robe and slippers are beyond cosy but note, you do need to buy them if you want them as a souvenir of your stay. There is a bedside panel to control features like the air conditioning and curtains. We don't have a main meal in The Brush Grand Cafe during our stay, but it is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner with European signature dishes like veal schnitzel and whole grilled seabass. The first floor offers The Lounge & Cocktail Bar, a hub to work and relax in by day, with live music and a cocktail list in the evening. During our stay, there are performances by guitar and vocal duo The Rivers ft Lauren Cofie. After our hearty fried-chicken lunch, something light from room service seems a great compromise. We use the hotel app to order the London Cure smoked salmon, avocado and capers bagel, and the Scottish smoked salmon on pumpernickel bread with fish eggs. Delish. Thankfully, our appetite is back in earnest by the following morning. Breakfast has three courses, a croissant, pain au chocolat or pain au raisin, followed by fruits and grains and a hot breakfast such as eggs, avocado and poached egg on sourdough, savoury muffin, prosciutto toastie, bratwurst, eggs benedict, smoked salmon or shakshuka. My friend loves her avocado and poached eggs, and my shakshuka is delicious but if I had to do it over, I'd request a second poached egg to make it more filling. We explore the pool, gym and sauna facilities before we check out, and even though we're not flinging ourselves onto the machines for a workout, we can appreciate the fantastic view from the 26th floor gym of a skyline featuring the London Eye, Walkie Talkie and The Shard. And there is plenty to explore outside the hotel itself. Districts like Hoxton and Shoreditch are associated with creativity and innovation and a contrast to nearby gleaming skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. There are old pubs, old brick buildings, avant-garde restaurants, warehouses repurposed into lofts and offices, tech start-ups and fashion studios, and plenty of great live music venues. Shoreditch has become more and more trendy in recent years, and the art'otel is emblematic of that process. But it does bring so much style and elegance with it. You might find more traditional places closer to the typical tourist sights of London, but as my friend puts it, this is aimed at the more 'inquisitive traveller who wants to see the grittier sights of the city'. I'd agree – and it has a lot of luxury and art thrown in. Then, it's back home to my flooded Belfast abode, but after the luxury I've experienced, I can't complain too much.