BACKGROUND
Pan Pacific Hotels Group is a member of Singapore-listed UOL Group Limited, a hotel and property company which owns and/or manages more than 50 hotels, resorts and serviced suites (including those under development) under three brands: Pan Pacific, Parkroyal Collection and Parkroyal. This property, Pan Pacific London, opened in September 2021.
WHERE IS IT?
Close to Liverpool Street and occupying the lower floors (6-19) of the 43-storey, bronze-coloured One Bishopsgate Plaza, a tower with residential apartments on the upper floors. It is set back from the main road by the plaza, which has 144 year-old Devonshire Row on one side in which shops, a restaurant and a cocktail bar will open early in 2022.
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Very high-end and discreetly luxurious with a residential feel. The hotel’s interiors are by design duo Yabu Pushelberg and inspired by a “fusion of south-east Asian vibrancy and the refined elegance of traditional British design”. There are lots of curves with an elegant staircase and a double-height arched corridor leading to the lifts up to the rooms. The staff are superb – professional and efficient but with a welcome that feels personal, starting from your arrival when you are escorted to your room.
ROOMS
The 237 rooms, including 42 suites, have a variety of views – those at the front look on to St Botolph’s Church, while those on Houndsditch look towards the Shard. Rooms start at the entry level Deluxe (37 sqm) and range up to the 119 sqm Pan Pacific suite on the 19th floor. Décor is neutral with a warm colour palette. The floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the views. The curved walls are unusual in a deliberate move to eliminate 90-degree angles, which makes for distinctive spaces. The restful tones are complimented by rich fabrics in the furnishings and custom-designed murals. The lighting controls take some getting used to. Different moods – “relax” and “night time” – are written on faint labels.
There is a beautiful marble-topped side table and firm armchair that can create a workspace. Bathrooms have Diptyque amenities, a large walk-in shower, heated towel rails, and super-plush bathrobes and slippers. There are also tea and coffee-making facilities, complimentary bottled water, a well-stocked minibar, and a large full-length mirror in a brushed copper surround with a plug by it and a built-in shelf for the Dyson hair dryer. Premier rooms (39-44 sqm) and up have baths as well as showers. The entry level suites – Devonshire (floors 6-12) and Walbrook (floors 13-19) – are 52-57 sqm, but Walbrook suites have better views.
FOOD AND DRINK
There are five venues. Ginger Lily is a stylish bar at the back of the property; dark and intimate with a small terrace. It offers an extensive choice of cocktails and is particularly strong on rums. The Orchid Lounge serves one of the best afternoon teas in London with a choice of traditional English or Singaporean Kopi Tiam food, including exquisite patisserie by executive pastry chef Cherish Finden. There is a curated menu of black and green tea blends from Rare Tea Company, plus Champagne and English sparkling wines. The all-day dining Straits Kitchen is an Asian-inspired restaurant offering memorable fusion dishes, with seasonal ingredients from Nurtured in Norfolk. There are two private dining rooms.
MEETINGS
The main ballroom can accommodate 220 people and has direct access from Bishopsgate Plaza via a glass escalator and lift. There are another nine meeting rooms with top-class technology, superfast wifi and 5G reception.
LEISURE
The fourth floor has a 1,000 sqm fitness and wellness area, including an infinity pool and a well-equipped gym. There are treatment rooms, a sauna and steam room.
VERDICT
A superb luxury hotel with Asian standards of service right in the centre of the City of London.
FACT FILE
- BEST FOR Exploring London’s vibrant Liverpool Street, Shoreditch and Hoxton areas, with Spitalfields market a short stroll away
- DON’T MISS The Kopi Tiam afternoon tea (skip lunch to make room for it) served from a gilded bird cage overhanging your table
- PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in February 2022 started from £375 for a Deluxe room
- CONTACT 80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB; +44 (0)20 7118 6888; panpacificlondon.com
