The Hoxton Southwark — London, UK

The Hoxton group has gone from strength to super strength since opening its first hotel in London’s Shoreditch back in 2006. The Hoxton Southwark, the eighth addition to its portfolio, makes a very welcome addition to the Blackfriars landscape.
Blackfriars Road was, until fairly recently, a gritty thoroughfare leading dense traffic in and out of the City of London. But a multimillion pound regeneration plan has seen the haphazard arrangement of unsightly 1960s office blocks pulled down and replaced by smart new buildings set on a tree-lined boulevard with wide cycle lanes.
Housed in a new Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands-designed building that wouldn't look out of place in Manhattan, the 14-storey, 192-room Hoxton Southwark sports an industrial aesthetic forged through bare brick walls, concrete ceilings and large black Crittall-style windows, both in public spaces and guest rooms. An elegant, light-filled lobby, dotted with comfy chairs, statement brass lighting and potted plants, stretches one way into a bar and lounge, and the other way into ground floor brasserie Albie.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the Bowery buzz of the lower floors, top floor restaurant Seabird rocks an LA vibe. Its colonnaded, chequerboard-tiled terrace, bedecked with round tables, cushioned wicker seating, twinkling lights and lush foliage, offers far-reaching views across the south London skyline to the river, while the interior space feels satisfyingly capacious and airy for a city establishment. A moreish seafood menu draws on Iberian influences, with the restaurant offering a very impressive marble raw bar, a deliciously long and varied oyster list, and a seductive selection of biodynamic wines from some of Europe’s best small-scale producers. Heartily recommended dining choices include the charred gem lettuce and the octopus roll, which looks set to become a signature dish.
ADDRESS
32-40 Blackfriars Road
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Anne Soward joined the Wallpaper* team as Production Editor back in 2005, fresh from a three-year stint working in Sydney at Vogue Entertaining & Travel. She prepares all content for print to ensure every story adheres to Wallpaper’s superlative editorial standards. When not dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, she dreams about real estate.
-
‘Psychedelic art palace’ Meow Wolf is coming to New York
The ultimate immersive exhibition, which combines art and theatre in its surreal shows, is opening a seventh outpost in The Seaport neighbourhood
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Stanley Donwood on decades of Glastonbury poster design
While Glastonbury fans huff and puff over this year's line-up announcement, we talk to the man responsible for designing the festival’s poster, for the last two decades
By Craig McLean Published
-
Demna is heading to Gucci after a decade at Balenciaga
In a day of fashion moves, it has been announced that Georgian designer Demna is set to exit Balenciaga to become creative director of Gucci, replacing Sabato De Sarno
By Orla Brennan Published
-
Now boarding Air Anya: Anya Hindmarch’s ode to aviation’s golden age
Anya Hindmarch’s new London concept store and travel accessories collection celebrate the glamour of 1970s air travel
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
‘A place for carnivores’ – Ibai is a London restaurant that celebrates Basque Country beef
A Clerkenwell restaurant where unhurried steak is the star of the show
By Lisa Wright Published
-
La Môme London finds its home at The Berkeley hotel
All the razzle-dazzle of Cannes and Monte Carlo is wrapped up in this one fabulous dining room and terrace in London
By Ben McCormack Published
-
The new dawn of the London sandwich shop
The 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
By Toyo Odetunde Published
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy design
There’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
London's coolest design-led coffee shops for your Fashion Week fix
Coffee shops are the heart of London’s neighbourhoods, discover those fusing speciality beans and stylish interiors for the perfect brew
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Shakara is a stylish new addition to London's West African dining scene
Shakara, a new Marylebone bar and dining room, adds to the city's ever-more impressive high-end West African dining scene
By Ben McCormack Published
-
First a fishmonger then a restaurant, how Applebee’s became a Borough Market staple
In line with the London seafood restaurant’s 25th anniversary, Applebee’s is reopening with a new menu and a new look courtesy of design studio A-nrd
By Ben McCormack Published