The Hoxton Shoreditch in London
My firm has always had a presence in London and work required me to visit a few times a year, until five years ago when we acquired a company based there. Since then, I have been to London no fewer than 50 times.
What my firm also has is a responsible travel and expense policy, which meant that I had to "hotel hop" quite a bit to stay within our spend limits, much to the chagrin of my Starwood account. I love boutique hotels so always lean towards those when I can find them. Luckily, there is no shortage of them in London!
Two years ago, I was getting pretty bored with my normal regimen of hotels. I needed something different to help me get through these work trips with a modicum of enjoyment. The words hip, current, fun and comfortable all came to mind when I started yet another hotel search. And then, like a bolt of lightning, my search revealed The Hoxton Shoreditch, which after one stay quickly became my new favourite. Eight stays later and I am still a happy camper. Why, you ask?
The Location. There is a Hoxton near my office in Holborn and it's great. But this Shoreditch one brings with it a funky neighborhood that instantly makes you feel cool when you are in it. The graffiti and Boxpark (street food pop ups and shops in container cars) give it edge while the hip coffee bars and trendy boutiques make it a welcome spot for anyone.
The Lobby. Like other Hoxtons, the lobby is appointed with distressed wooden tables, comfy velvet couches, leather lounge chairs and gentle lighting. The lobby is busy all day and night.
In the morning, the coffee bar - pumping out lattes to the beat of the ambient background music and satisfying all cravings with their assortment of pastries - is popular.
During the day, it's filled with professionals and entrepreneurs meeting over coffee and glowing laptops. I love to sit, read a book, check email and have a cappuccino while taking in the hustle and bustle of the other guests.
At night, it turns into a bit of a mellow club with a DJ playing music while guests, often from nearby offices, sip rose and crafted cocktails. In the winter, I love to sink into one of the big leather chairs by the fire, catch up on my day, connect with my team back in the States, and sip on a glass of wine. And the people watching is fun.
The Rooms. Each room has a 'warehouse chic' vibe - minimal yet comfortable. Both the room and bathroom were well-sized with an eclectic mix of furniture and decor. Like other London hotel rooms, they aren't super large but how much time do you spend in there anyway? I love the Pen & Ink toiletries they use!
The Food.
Every morning, the hotel provides guests with a to-go bag of yogurt, a banana and orange juice - FOR FREE. You'll find it hanging outside your door at your pre-chosen time. This was perfect for me as I try to survive jet lag and admittedly perpetually run 5 minutes late in my life.
The Hoxton Grill, the restaurant in the lobby, is good. Not my favourite but solid, especially after a long day where you are exhausted and jet lagged but want to at least feel like you are out and about in London.
The Vibe. It's cool. It's relaxed. It's edgy. It's light. It's fun. It's welcoming.
For all these reasons, I will keep going back.
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