Spanning 18 floors and offering 269 stylish rooms and suites, this luxe tech hotel opened in Shoreditch at the end of 2015. Hospitality Interiors’ Gemma Ralph reports on her overnight stay …
Situated just a stone’s throw away from Old Street Station, this luxury new hotel embraces and epitomises the rapid growth and technological fervour of Tech City – London’s answer to Silicon Valley.
On approach, the 18-storey hotel juts from the ground unapologetically, its striking, futuristic façade almost dizzying in effect.
Built by SGP Contracts under a full design and build contract, the structure is influenced by the work of Op-Art pioneer, Bridget Riley – particularly her diagonal stripe painting, ‘Nataraja’. In fact, it is one of the very first buildings in the world to absorb a horizontal transom on the façade.
This bold, impressive exterior sets a precedent for the hotel’s ambitious, tech-driven interior. Upon entering the sleek reception – complete with magnificent free-hanging light installations and contemporary furnishings – the symbiosis of technology and human contact is immediately apparent.
Large table-top interfaces surrounded by comfy chairs allow guests to check weather conditions, plan their onward travel or to generally browse the internet. Check-in, meanwhile, can be carried out the conventional way, or via an iPad.
Taking away a divisive desk during check-in made a real and surprising difference, somehow making the process more personable and informal.
“This balance between the human touch and technological innovation is mirrored in the guest rooms”
This balance between the human touch and technological innovation is mirrored in the guest rooms. Given the identity of the hotel is centred around technology, I had pondered prior to arriving on how seamlessly these systems would be incorporated.
The room certainly did not disappoint, however, with its sleek and unobtrusive hardware. A touchscreen panel on the wall beside the bathroom allows guests to quickly and easily adjust the temperature of the room, as well as the lighting.
Bed-side tablets, too, allow you to open and close the curtains, adjust the colour of the mood lighting, and to control the impressive 37-inch LCD TV. There is even the option to control the scent of the room, with a number of options available.
Although a relatively nascent concept, this intuitive, experience-led technology did not drastically change the experience in the way I thought it might. Instead, it enhanced it, very quickly becoming second nature, and making my stay in the hotel feel significant, even for a fleeting moment.
There has been a distinct rise in hotel guest rooms that encourage guests to feel ‘at home’ in their surroundings, just with an extra dash of luxury and escapism. M by Montcalm Shoreditch certainly embraces this philosophy, and gives its guests full control of their experience.
It’s more than the novelty of switching on the air con from your bed, or changing TV channel, you truly feel that you can mould your experience of the hotel. There’s none of the hunting for plug sockets, or that age-old bugbear of scanning the walls in the dark for the bathroom light, you feel immediately familiar and comfortable with your surroundings.
Crucially, the other key elements of the guest experience have not been neglected. Muted browns and creams create a soothing feel, while pops of colour from plush textiles provide just a little vibrancy.
A stylish desk bears a media centre, a selection of seasonal fruit, mineral water and some magazines, while the wardrobe contains the minibar, snack drawer, coffee machine, kettle, safe, umbrella, iron and ironing board. The attention to detail is really worth noting here, and little touches like providing take away cups for the coffee, and the variety of brightly-coloured sweets, make a small but significant difference.
The sleek black and white bathroom, meanwhile, features a powerful walk-in rain and hand-held shower, high-end M-Line basins and WCs from VitrA, plush robes and slippers, and a range of luxury Hermès amenities (in the suites).
In terms of public spaces, the hotel offers two F&B options – Urban Coterie and Tonic & Remedy. Located on the 17th floor, Urban Coterie is led by head chef Martin Zahumensky, formerly of Texture and Hibiscus.
“Designed by London-based TONIK Associates, Urban Coterie takes inspiration from many aspects of the building’s architecture, while traditional materials such as brass, timber, bianco marble and leather soften the buildings sharp angles”
Designed by London-based TONIK Associates, Urban Coterie takes inspiration from many aspects of the building’s architecture, while traditional materials such as brass, timber, bianco marble and leather soften the buildings sharp angles.
Tonic & Remedy, meanwhile, is a restaurant and cocktail bar split between the ground and mezzanine floors. Paying homage to the apothecary trade that had been located in that area of London throughout previous centuries, Tonic & Remedy features an eclectic design with a buzzing metropolitan feel.
One of the highlights of the hotel is certainly its spa. The Versace-tiled 12m swimming pool is the centrepiece of the facility, surrounded by stylish seating and soothing lanterns. Complete with three treatment rooms, a jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, rainfall showers and a gym equipped with Matrix cardiovascular and strength machines, the spa facilities are top notch, and certainly do not feel like an after-thought.
The hotel’s conference and meeting facilities are also impressive. Catering for up to 250 delegates, these spaces are intelligently-designed, with state-of-the-art technology, including plasma screens, audio equipment and complimentary high-speed broadband.
It is always encouraging to stay in a hotel that lives up to expectations, and one that hasUrban Coterie and Tonic & Remedy consistently high-standard facilities and impressive interiors across the board. Although fairly muted in its design, the hotel’s focus on all aspects of the guest experience has more than paid off.
