The perfect weekend get-away…
K West Hotel & Spa is situated in one of London’s most up-and-coming districts, Shepherd’s Bush, and is on the doorstep of Westfield shopping centre, one of the largest retail destinations in Europe, boasting over 240 shops. Fashionable areas such as Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington are also just a short walk away.
Formerly the BBC building Kensington House in the 60s, an endless list of rock ‘n’ roll royalty has stayed, played and misbehaved here – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bowie, The Kinks, Roxy Music and Amy Winehouse, to name a few.
All 219 guestrooms are generous in space and have luxurious oversized beds and a calming colour scheme, LCD flatscreen TVs, sandblasted glass and original artwork give the rooms a distinctive K West stamp.
At the upper end of the scale, six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience. Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge areas, and the latter are fitted with Bose surround sound entertainment systems, a 42-inch plasma-screen TV and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metre-square beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are also staples in the suites and the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck fixtures and double-ended baths.
Come the evening, on the ground floor, near to the entrance, Studio Bar has been given a moody, music-infused atmosphere. Industrial-style pendant lamps hang low over raised tables, and textured, silver wallpaper by Dixon Turner gives the bar a modern edge. The polished, dark walnut wood flooring brings warmth to the area, which is opened up with the use of floor-to-ceiling mirrored pillars and relaxed seating arrangements. Upcycled furniture is used to create high-backed booth seating along the back wall, separated by silver and black voile curtains to create intimate, VIP-style corners. Chic black and white artwork depicting musicians hangs above each booth, with punchy contrasting accents of colour adding vibrancy. Even the drinks menu has been injected with some rock ‘n’ roll swagger; there are six signature bourbon whiskey cocktails available, plus a quirky K West special known as ‘Pickleback’ – a shot of Jack Daniels whiskey and a shot of pickle juice.
By day, Studio Bar is a light and airy space for creative media meetings over coffees and laptops. Plugs are conveniently fitted by seats, and a ‘Geek Hub’ laptop bar, complete with complimentary iMacs for guests to use, can be found tucked into a snug area around the corner from the bar.
On the mezzanine floor above the bar, Studio Kitchen is an informal eatery with an urban New York vibe. Edgy city landscape sketches stretch along the walls, mirrored by a quirky wave of banquet seating hugging the back of the room. Sprinklings of filament light bulbs suspended on individual wires add an abstract, arty feel to the room.
The Library has been redesigned to complement the front of house bar, providing a relaxed, informal and creative atmosphere that can be completely sealed off from the buzz of the bar with black and silver drapes suspended between a giant wooden frame. Andy Warhol-style statement artwork depicting Amy Winehouse is displayed at one end of the room, a tribute to yet another music legend who loved the hotel. Against the opposite wall, a large flatscreen TV sits in the centre of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which display an eye-catching collection of coffee table books. The Library will be a multifunctional space, which will be used for screenings, events, pop-ups and various other antics as well as providing a chill space for guests.
K Spa was named Best Spa in London at the Good Spa Guide’s annual awards 2015 and is also the winner of a World Luxury Spa Award. This holistic retreat offers a range of exclusive treatments and is home to London’s first Snow Paradise, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments. The spa also features a twinkling hydrotherapy pool, sanarium, sauna, dry flotation tank, aromatic herbal steam room and the fully equipped K Fit gymnasium.
Prices start from £125 per room per night and K Suites from £540 per night, including VAT.
Spa packages are also available and include overnight accommodation and treatments.
To find out more, please contact K West Hotel & Spa, Richmond Way, London W14 0AX.
For reservations, please call 020 8008 6600 or visit k-west.co.uk
