Collision Between the British Elegance & French Romance

Near the R iver Thames in London, stands a neoclassical building. Not far from the north is the bustling Regent Street, and a short walk to the south is the 10th Downing Street where the Prime Minister lives. 

From the map, it is located in the prime area of London, surrounded by a large number of theaters,museums and restaurants of Italian, French, Japanese,Danish and Scandinavian styles. This building is now the Sofitel London St James. After a tiring day, one embarks on a journey back to the hotel and it will be such a good experience to enjoy the cuisine of various countries in the cultural atmosphere.

Respect the History, Tell the Story

If the French culture brings a warm and romantic atmosphere, then the British culture adds a restrainedand solemn quality, and the fusion of the two create more possibilities. From here, the Sofitel London St James was born.Sofitel is an international luxury hotel brand under the French Accor Group, which is located in many large cities around the world, one of which entered London at the beginning of the new century. The hotel building was built in 1923 and was the continuation of the 19th century John Nash Regent Street renovation program. Before 2002, it was originally a bank building, and when Sofitel received it, it was turned into a first class fivestar luxury hotel.

In design, French interior designer PierreYves Rochon combines modern elements into this neoclassical building and preserves the roots of British culture to a great extent. Entering the hotel‘s main entrance, you can see a tall glass wall engraved with the history of the building. The hotel lobby is decorated with black and white marble, brightly colored carpets and red sofa chairs, adding an unusual perception to the space of the former bank lobby. The semicircular terrace in the mezzanine overlooks the entire lobby space, and you can notice a lot of paintings on the wall, including not only the works of English and French artists, but also portraits of the hotel predecessors.

When checking in at the front desk with a twometer high atomic clock, it is likely one will worry about the choice of room type. After all, each has its own characteristics. The Sofitel London St James has a total of 183 rooms, including eight room types, to meet the diverse needs of all guests. The rooms are designed based on the principle of comfort, with a natural color that is not dazzling to the eyes, such as beige wool carpets, dark green TV cabinets, and woodcoloured wardrobes, all of which bring a homely experience. All rooms are designed in accordance with Sofitel‘s Mybed concept to ensure the best quality beddings are used; Hermes‘s toiletries add fragrance to the space, so that guests can fall asleep quietly. 

It is worth mentioning that the oneofakind theatre suite is the highlight of all the rooms. The French designer Christophe Daudre is inspired by the statue of Edward VII in Waterloo Square to redesign the space of the suite and create a modern style of beauty in the architectural structure of nearly a hundred years.

A Precious Stage Show

The dining place is like a room that makes the guests linger.The allday main restaurant ”The Balcon” （”Patio” restaurant）is designed by Russell Sage Studio, a famous British highend hotel interior design company. The oak and ebonylined floor shows a calming feeling, and the dark tables and chairs override the basic color of the space. The Gainsborough silk from the centenary silk factory hangs on the tall arched window, adding a touch of drama. The hardwood spiral staircase makes the space more aesthetically pleasing with change, and the Champagne Tstage hidden beneath it is facing Palmer Street, famous for its many clubs. The Balcon restaurant‘s requirements for dishes are undoubtedly demanding. The head chef transferred his love of French cuisine to local ingredients and cooked an authentic French meal, such as steak and lemon fried halibut. The restaurant also offers a French luxury Sturia caviar comparable to Beluga caviar as a luxury experience, paired with a glass of champagne, so the journey is all the more interesting.

Of course, desserts other than dinner are also indispensable. Sofitel London St James brought afternoon tea into the hotel‘s library and decorated a space called ”Rose Lounge” with a unique style. The entire lounge is designed with the theme of the famous English rose in the history. Sitting among the books of English and French cultures, and pink and cream furniture, the flowers on the table or the flowers in the paintings seem to bring forth a fragrant smell.In the performance of the harp, guests can taste the Dammann Frères, a centuryold tea from Paris, France, and taste the rich Devonshire clotted cream on the pastry.

Luxury Reenactment of the Millennium Bar Culture 

How can the Europeanstyle life lack the quintessence of the bar culture In British culture, the history of bars has been more than a thousand years. The hotel‘s St James Bar stands out among the many bars in the city, just because of its restrained luxury. Inspired by Coco Chanel‘s apartment, the bar‘s walls are erected with a black screen of lilacpatterned silk, and the blackandwhite floralpatterned rug at the foot highlights the Chinese art style, paired with French classical goldplated seats and mohair benches. 

The bar counter is topped with gorgeous amethyst, and the Edwardian salmonskin bar chair is full of charm. The golden light from the classical lamp is scattered to the whole space. Perhaps due to the Frenchman‘s witty personality and respect for the past, a portrait of the Duke associated with the hotel‘s predecessor bank is displayed on the ceiling. Interestingly, the position of the face is replaced by a rooster‘s head. What a fun joke If you have time, it is a good choice to go to the hotel‘s SoSPA for a spa treatment and sweat at the SoFIT gym.

In this fulfilling accommodation experience, no one will not be impressed by the charm of English and French culture. Sofitel London St James is definitely worth a visit.