Rhombus International Hotels Group took over the operation of Hotel Verta on December 9, 2011 - reservations can now be made at hotelverta.com.
Background Verta is something of a departure for luxury hotel group Von Essen, whose portfolio of about 30 properties mainly consists of country pads in the UK such as Cliveden House in Berkshire and Amberley Castle in West Sussex (it also has a property in France). Open since September, this is the first new-build in the collection and is attached to the London Heliport, also owned by the group.
What’s it like? Verta is the largest Von Essen hotel, and first impressions are of a stylish, 1930s-inspired interior that belies the modern architecture of the building, with art deco influences and references to the golden age of aviation. As you enter the 14-storey building (Verta takes up the first five floors and the two top levels, with the seven in the middle being private apartments), reception is to your left, while to the right is a sweeping staircase leading to the upstairs bar.
Where is it? This is bound to be the biggest sticking point for potential guests, aside from the lucky few who want to use the heliport. The hotel is on the River Thames in Battersea, accessed through what is effectively an industrial estate, and public transport links are limited, with Clapham Junction station about ten minutes’ walk, and the nearest tube stations (Vauxhall and East Putney) about three miles away. There are plans to add a free shuttle service from Clapham Junction in the future. Similar to the Pestana Chelsea Bridge, the area around the hotel is undergoing regeneration, with several residential projects on the go, and another hotel (Rafayel on the Left Bank – visit businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested for a review) having opened next to Verta in late 2009.
Room facilities Rooms start from 20 sqm and come in four colour schemes including rich olive, with either blonde or black wood, and heavy curtains. Beds are very comfortable with huge pillows, thick throws and soft duvets. Each room has a clever piece of artwork consisting of paper aeroplanes made from maps. All rooms have wifi (free for 30 minutes and £15 for 24 hours thereafter), a safe, air conditioning, robe and slippers, iron/ironing board and espresso machines. Bathrooms are smart with mosaic walls and built-in TVs above the bath – those in standard rooms have a combined bath and shower, while those in Deluxe rooms and above are larger, with double basins and walk-in showers.
My Deluxe room had a chaise longue at the end of the bed, and a large flatscreen TV above a workdesk with international power sockets and a media hub with USB and audio sockets. Rooms are triple-glazed to guard against noise from the helicopters, and while I could still hear a dull whirr, it wasn’t enough to disturb me. As with the rest of the hotel, I found the room classy and well-equipped, but there were a few teething problems – the fire alarm went off four times during my stay, and the water pressure in the shower was very weak.
Restaurants and bars Patrisey restaurant (Patrisey is the old word for Battersea) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and overlooks the Thames and the heliport. With the risk of sounding like a geek, I was genuinely excited to watch helicopters taking off a few feet away from me while tucking into a great English breakfast.
Dinner was impressive, with starters including a fluffy double-baked goats cheese soufflé (£7.50) and some moreish crab and tarragon fish cakes (£8). Main courses included a good selection of meat dishes, including Suffolk double pork chop (£19.50), and rump of lighthorn lamb (£20.50). There is an open kitchen and a comprehensive wine range on display behind a glass wall. On the mezzanine floor, Bar Vertilon offers “Jet Fuel” snacks and a wide range of cocktails.
Business and meeting facilities There are seven meeting rooms on the first floor, all with daylight, while on the 13th level, the “Roof Top” event space holds up to 300 delegates. There is also a two-bedroom penthouse above that can host up to 50 people thanks to its outdoor deck, which features a hot tub, bar, cooking area and views over the Thames.
Leisure facilities For me these are the highlight of the hotel. Spread across two floors in the basement, the upper level has four treatment rooms, while downstairs is a gym, sauna, steam room, sanarium, “experience showers”, foot spas, and a heated hydro-vitality pool.
Verdict Rooms are chic with great bathroom facilities (bar a few minor issues), and both the restaurant and spa are excellent. It’s quite a novelty watching the helicopters departing and arriving, but the price for this is a location that won’t suit everyone.
Fact file
How many rooms? There are 70 rooms in total – 20 standard Metropolitan, 20 Superior and 24 Deluxe rooms, plus four Junior suites and two River suites.
Room highlights The big bathrooms in the Deluxe rooms and above, with in-built TVs and large walk-in showers. The bed was also extremely comfortable.
Price Internet rates for a midweek stay in February started from £246 for a Metropolitan room.
Contact Hotel Verta Battersea London Heliport, Bridges Wharf, Battersea; tel +44 (0)20 7801 3500; hotelverta.com.
Mark Caswell
