It's no mean feat to arrive with a bang in a city as saturated with new openings as London, but Ham Yard, the eighth property from Firmdale Hotels, has pulled it off. On three acres of prime Soho real estate, encompassing 91 guest rooms and 24 residential apartments, Ham Yard begs the question: how has such a large expanse laid empty since the Second World War? Perhaps it was waiting for someone like co-owner Kit Kemp, whose signature interiors feature a clash of colours, patterns and world-sourced art. Kemp has furnished the rooms with pieces picked up in India and Africa and accented with bespoke wallpaper and a new range of Firmdale-produced toiletries. A rooftop garden, complete with herb patch and fruit trees, is available for private events; but for those who can't wangle an invite, the ground-floor Ham Yard Bar & Restaurant isn't a bad compromise. To be clear that the property is more than just a spot to lounge, Firmdale has added a Soholistic Spa with thermal areas, a 188-seat cinema, 13 retail units and a vintage bowling alley shipped in from Texas.
ADDRESS
1 Ham Yard
London
-
Unlike the gloriously grotesque imagery in his films, Yorgos Lanthimos’ photographs are quietly beautifulAn exhibition at Webber Gallery in Los Angeles presents Yorgos Lanthimos’ photography
-
Remembering architect David M Childs (1941-2025) and his New York skyline legacyDavid M Childs, a former chairman of architectural powerhouse SOM, has passed away. We celebrate his professional achievements
-
At the Institute of Indology, a humble new addition makes all the differenceContinuing the late Balkrishna V Doshi’s legacy, Sangath studio design a new take on the toilet in Gujarat
-
For a taste of Greece, head to this playful new restaurant in London’s ChelseaPachamama Group’s latest venture, Bottarga, dishes up taverna flavours in an edgy bistro-style setting
-
At The Lavery, Anglo-Italian cooking caters to London’s design obsessiveThe former residence of Irish painter Sir John Lavery now houses an elegant restaurant where Georgian classicism meets 20th-century design favourites
-
A buzzy Korean pop-up becomes a permanent fixture in East LondonChef Joo Won has turned his Calong pop-up permanent in the arty enclave of Stoke Newington
-
New London restaurant Alba is a sun-soaked affairIts name meaning ‘sunrise’ in Italian, Alba is a new Amalfi-inspired restaurant set to shine in Knightsbridge
-
Now boarding Air Anya: Anya Hindmarch’s ode to aviation’s golden ageAnya Hindmarch’s new London concept store and travel accessories collection celebrate the glamour of 1970s air travel
-
‘A place for carnivores’ – Ibai is a London restaurant that celebrates Basque Country beefA Clerkenwell restaurant where unhurried steak is the star of the show
-
La Môme London finds its home at The Berkeley hotelAll the razzle-dazzle of Cannes and Monte Carlo is wrapped up in this one fabulous dining room and terrace in London
-
The new dawn of the London sandwich shopThe appeal of a quick meal between two slices of bread has long held sway in the UK. We look back on the rise of the sandwich shop and explore the new wave of London venues that are making it a more stylised experience
