When it opened in 2004, the Blue Bar at The Berkeley quickly became one of the late David Collins’ most famous projects – its compact proportions and lovely Lutyens paneling gave it an easy intimacy by way of flattering lighting and low-slung furniture that encouraged huddled power-chats, or a satisfying round of pre-prandial gossip.
And now, Collins protégé Robert Angell has orchestrated a dramatic spruce up of the space whilst carefully staying true to the original mood and colour scheme.
The immediate impression is of an expanded room, this courtesy of a larger extension project spearheaded by Rogers Stirk Harbour Partnership which has inserted two carbon fibre pavilions – one of which is moulded onto The Blue Bar – into the front of the hotel to open up its façade.
Blue louvers provide a peekaboo privacy screen over the floor to ceiling glass walls, while Dernier & Hamlyn reproduced the original red silk lampshades and Cardinals Hat Lanterns. Collins’ familiar colour palette of blue, red, white and silver has been faithfully retained, with Angell designing a new blue-hued bar and new handmade furniture by Ben Whistler.
The cocktails menu is equally polychromatic as bar manager Rashid Ghuloom mixes golden champagne cocktails, blue, and green tipples.
ADDRESS
The Berkeley
Wilton Pl
London SW1X 7RL
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