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Simplicity is the keynote of the design throughout. It is difficult to achieve simplicity with sophistication, but clever lighting helps it to be achieved here. In some areas the lighting is slightly overdone – there is probably one fitting too many in the standard bathrooms for instance. In general lighting is used well and imaginatively; the addition of blue lights into the top of the bar lifts the whole area, for example. The light fittings in the public areas are large and visually provide accents, and in repeating the table patterns reinforce a rhythmic feel to the restaurant. The brasserie operates a take away service by day – this is part of the City of London, adjacent to the Law Courts and the Inns of Court, so there are many legal and office workers around and the division of the area into a defined seating area and a separate brasserie has been achieved neatly. Why is it so many hotels have a blind spot where bread is concerned? They will produce hand made bread for a restaurant meal and then a packaged sliced piece of pap at breakfast the next morning - along with undrinkable coffee from a thermos whilst the cappucino machine stays idle....
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In the main restaurant there is an abundance of dark wood and brown leather saved from boredom by the addition of yellow accent lighting and large fabric lampshades over each table. Wine racks are simply made from perforated metal, but are effective, whilst the counter and food area are visually strong adding interest as well.
However the bedrooms in any hotel are the heart of the building. In this Crowne Plaza the operator and the designer have got it right, on a tight budget. The rooms are generous, well designed and comfortable. Located within walking distance of Tate Modern, St. Pauls and the Law Courts, just off Fleet Street and by the river, the hotel is perfectly positioned to pick up tourist and weekend traffic as well as business traffic from the thousands of offices in the area. The discreet signage may make this a Londoners hotel, but it deserves to be more patronised than some other, more august but poorer designed establishments.
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