Checking Into Town Hall Hotel: Historic Opulence in East London
The 1910s were the heyday of Edwardian architecture and the British Empire.
Back then, the Bethnal Green Council had money to burn, and it splurged on a town hall in the high Baroque style.
Located in London’s East End and a mere five-minute walk to the Central Line tube station, the building initially housed the municipal administration. It was the site of community events such as public gatherings, petitions, and polls, whose traces can still be found in green leather benches lining the wall and the safe that housed the ballots now displayed by the entrance. The original structure on Cambridge Heath Road was extended in 1937 onto Patriot Square, where the current entrance sports a stunning facade.
The building fell into disrepair throughout the years before being vacated in 1993. It was only used as a shooting location for films and television until a Singaporean hotelier purchased it in 2007 to resurrect it as a luxury hotel in the burgeoning district. To their credit, original architectural features from the Edwardian and Art Deco eras were carefully preserved, including green marble floors, teak woodwork, ornate moulded ceilings, and other ornamentation. It took intensive research and skilled craftspeople to bring the building back to its former grandeur while also breathing new life into the space.
The current hotel comprises the original historic building and a contemporary extension forming a new top floor and wing.
Guest Rooms and Suites
With just under 100 rooms, Town Hall Hotel was designed to be a luxurious blend of old and new. Each room and suite has been individually designed to fit its unique dimensions, a given because of the building’s historic nature. Many retain details from the grand Edwardian period with vintage furniture pieces set against light hardwood floors and neutral walls that give off minimalist designer vibes.
The Junior Suites offer an open-plan layout, with plenty of space to spread out my luggage and work (a rarity for London hotels). There was, surprisingly, no washing machine, but the fully-equipped kitchenette and unlimited mineral water were a plus and still spoke to the property’s allure for extended stays. The exterior facade of our suite was encased entirely in a patterned aluminium skin inspired by Art Deco details in the council chamber for privacy as it faced the car park and York Hall. While the latticed panel allowed natural light to penetrate and made for a striking image, there’s no view, and boxing nights with a roaring crowd still get rowdy.
If you’re going all out, two suites were redesigned by the London-based Jan Hendzel Studio, featuring a gorgeous earthly palette of neutrals and greens mixed with chunky wood details, irregular curves in the furniture and even quirky mushroom-shaped lamps.
Dining
Da Terra
Da Terra, the poshest of Town Hall’s dining outlets, is helmed by Chef Rafael Cagalira, who hails from Brazil. With two Michelin stars, the fine dining concept serves tasting menus of South American-inspired dishes with an Italian flair and an international selection of wines.
Restaurant Elis
A more relaxed and light-hearted interpretation of Rafael Cagali’s Brazilian-Italian heritage, Elis serves up rustic dishes accompanied by snacks and wines. It’s also where hotel breakfast is offered with a la carte Western options.
Assembly Lounge
True to its name, the renovated daytime lounge is located where the council used to convene. It’s a cosy spot to unwind after a day out, with light bites and refreshments.
Facilities
Swimming Pool and Gym
Working off that Sunday Roast or detoxing from cocktails? Hit up the 14-metre lap pool under a gorgeous skylight. It’s heated and lined with titanium tiles, making it nothing short of the indulgences you would find on a spa retreat. If staying dry is more your thing, the gym is also fitted with premium Peloton bikes for an intense sweat session.
Ruuby In-Room Spa
From facials to massages, hair treatments or manicures, you can book an appointment for rejuvenation and relaxation in the sweet confines of your room.
Thoughts
Ask any Londoner, and they might tell you Bethnal Green is not the safest of areas. But East London has its gritty charm, and the Town Hall Hotel is within walking distance of less touristy sights such as the Young V&A Museum, Columbia Road flower market, Brick Lane, Old Spitalfields Markets, and Regent’s Canal. Being on the Central Line (red line), albeit in Zone 2, also meant the tube takes you straight to Bank, Tottenham Court Road, and Oxford Circus.
In hindsight, Shoreditch seems a hipper alternative to stay in. The neighbourhood has great restaurants, and you can still easily walk to Old Street on the Northern line (black line).
Undoubtedly, the Town Hall Hotel was lovingly restored with historic character and charm, its light touch of opulence pushing it away from being a corporate hotel. I loved the brightly lit stairwells that felt so familiar from my college hall days, but I couldn’t help feeling the space beyond the lobby felt hollow at times. The complex is ridden with corridors (as expected in a municipal building), but beyond that, every turn was more or less the same, and I could barely recount where the dining facilities were.
The indulgent suites are larger than most apartments in Hong Kong, though my definition of “apartments” includes laundry facilities (be they in-room or communal), so it was slightly disappointing when we rang up reception and were informed of the hefty rates for dry cleaning. Given the massive size of the property, it leaves room for more to be desired, like fully-fledged facilities and amenities to craft more of a luxe destination vibe where you needn’t step outside its doors. But being pet-friendly and such, I feel this is to play to their upscale status as an inclusive luxury hotel with a fine dining restaurant.
While the Town Hall Hotel is not for everyone, it is a statement of style and splendour, blending historical character with contemporary design in the heart of the vibrant, burgeoning East London.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission when you click and make a purchase.
Related Posts
