In the public areas there is evidence of tweaking.For instance the bar stools are not the ones that were in the initial publicity photos the hotel issued, whilst some of the signage hangs very uncomfortably on the wall as if added as an afterthought in reaction to some later change to the initial layout. Certainly some of the signage is strangely unwieldy, at odds with the aesthetic of signage elsewhere in the hotel, which is generally of a high order. The Restaurant space opens into the reception but a skilfully placed screen provides a private feel. The large windows to the street however do leave a guest feeling rather on stage, and the heavy nets have obviously been given the task of hiding ones food from the gaze of passengers on the Clapham Omnibus.

The art in the public areas is mostly for sale, and strangely doesn’t appear to feature the work of London artists – odd this, given that the capital has one of Europe’s largest and most successful artist communities. The changing nature of the art also works against the sophistication of the interiors created by the designers, as pictures are often of an inappropriate size for the wall they hang on, whilst quality can definately be described as variable. There was a statement by a designer in a recent issue of a UK design magazine to the effect that designers and architects should provide spaces for art to be shown – I have to say this hotels' use of art doesn’t support this arguement when the works chosen either don’t fit the space or are of such variable quality.

The spaces themselves work effectively and the use of coloured light panels provide highlights which successfully lift the colour scheme, warming it and providing the accents and life that are missing elsewhere. Despite the bulk of the columns they are not allowed to dominate the space, and the overall feeling is light and lively. The bar and servery work well and allow maximum use of areas for grazing as well as informal meetings, whilst the Brasserie with its street entrance deserves to be more successful. Certainly walking to the hotel from Victoria station should be easy, especially as this is where the train link to one of London’s major airports arrives – but local signing externally is poor, and the hotel is too discreet. I know this area and chose to arrive on foot, but finding the entrance to the hotel was not a simple process, and for a stranger to the city would be much harder.


The hotel makes effective use of an awkward site, and is a welcome addition to the four star hotel stock in London. The city is still, seemingly perpetually, short of hotel beds and it will be interesting to see how Park Plaza's newest addition, on the other side of Vauxhall Bridge with its views northwards to the Houses of Parliament, works out.