Step Inside the all new Belmond Cadogan Hotel on its Opening Day

28 February 2019

It’s a welcome return today to the Belmond Cadogan Hotel in Chelsea, after almost a five year absence for a complete refurbishment. Its multi-million pound restoration starts an exciting new chapter in the fashionable hotel’s 132 year history, as it joins the Belmond group and its portfolio of iconic hotels and travel experiences, including Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Belmond Hotel Splendido in Portofino and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train.

The hotel has been fully re-imagined to bring a fresh contemporary appeal to the grand townhouse, making it a great deal fresher, with a more exciting and dynamic layout. It brings a welcome edge to fabled Chelsea, adding to its cosmopolitan redevelopment around the Sloane Square / Pavilion Road as a place for creative vision, culture and refined living – as it was in the past a home to great artists and writers, amongst which were Oscar Wilde and Lillie Langtry.

The hotel entrance remains in the same location at No 75 Sloane Street, but there is also a new entrance to the front where it corners Pont Street (some may remember it as the former Thomas Pink shirt shop or local bank) where guests can access the bar, where it then flows through to the stylish Cadogan’s by Adam Handling, a lounge bar, perfect for relaxing and afternoon tea. Belmond has called upon the talents of Adam Handling to run all culinary offerings – a brilliant visionary young chef – winner of Young Chef of the Year, Chef of the Year and billed by industry The Caterer publication as one of the ’30 under 30 to watch’ – he is 30 now.

Adam brings modern zeal to ‘Best of British’ cuisine with innovative dishes, a sustainable cooking approach and zero waste ethos.

Dish examples include: ‘Highland Wagyu Beef, Braised Onions, Smoked Bone Marrow’; ‘Scottish Scallop Ceviche, Green Tomato’;  ‘Lamb Wellington, Carrot, Mint’, and ‘Langoustine, Pink Grapefruit’. To make a table reservation at Adam Handling Chelsea, call 0207 199 8370.

Adam Handling Chelsea is a luxurious destination restaurant, but not overbearing or stuffy, and good for locals. It has the added bonus of a small chefs table area with banquette seating for a really buzzy lunch, watching the action in the kitchen but still within the restaurant.

The main bar is sleek and set to be a hit amongst locals, particularly for its new enviable location looking down Sloane Street, menu choices that go beyond the obvious, and elegant styling. Adam is serving classic cocktails using British ingredients with minimal fuss, alongside a British cheese and charcuterie selection.

Adam has also created an Afternoon Tea to be served in the lounge, inspired by nostalgic moments from his childhood. Each item will be prepared at the in-house bakery, including an abundance of cakes, cookies and chocolates.

Within the hotel there are now just 54 stunning rooms, re-configured from 64 rooms. This makes the property more intimate and welcoming for luxury travellers, with larger junior suites and suites – in fact two thirds of the hotel bedroom stock are suites. Prices start from £470 per room per night based on two sharing a double.

With its rich cultural background and new luxury global branding, there’s little wonder art figures heavily in the aesthetics. A 415-piece art collection can be enjoyed throughout the hotel, with 90% of the works having been designed specifically for Belmond Cadogan.

Guests also have access to the private Cadogan Place gardens, (one of Chelsea’s largest garden squares and once the site of the 18th century London Botanic Gardens) offering a tranquil escape in Spring and Summer.

Staff uniforms are another element that sets the hotel apart. Inspired by 1960s London and the fashionable Kings Road, which has been an important part of the London fashion scene for decades, designs see peter-pan collars and strong check prints, a nod to Mary Quant and other designers who made their mark in the area. The doorman, for instance, wears a vivid red tartan uniform, harking back to the punk era – not very ‘old Cadogan’, but very much part of the ‘new Cadogan’ with its emphasis on personality.

For this hotel – seeing is believing, and we believe you’ll fall in love with it.

Belmond Cadogan Hotel,  75 Sloane Street, Chelsea, London SW1X 9SG