Dexter Moren Associates have achieved planning approval for the extension of the 18-room boutique Henrietta Hotel in Covent Garden. The hotel, which opened in 2017, is owned and run by the Paris-based Experimental Group, with a cocktail bar, Ollie Dabbous restaurant and quirky interior design by Dorothée Meilichzon. High occupancy rates have created an opportunity to provide additional guestrooms while maintaining the high-quality design of the hotel.
The plans convert 30-33 Henrietta Street, a part-listed 19th Century Queen Anne revival style block, currently used as restaurants on the ground levels, with offices on the four floors above. DMA’s redesign includes the conversion of the upper parts and associated ground floor and basement to house a total of 23 new hotel rooms and suites. These rooms will be operated by the existing Henrietta Hotel currently located at 14-15 Henrietta Street, bringing the hotel’s total capacity to 43 rooms.
The extension builds on the themes of the existing hotel celebrating the heritage fabric of the building providing a high-quality hotel product with a smart design approach. Heritage elements such as fireplace surrounds, plasterwork, archways and bay windows have been reinstated. New secondary glazing behind the original window frameworks will improve the energy efficiency of the building while preserving the existing decorations.
Wan Yau, partner, DMA:
“We are delighted that the plans have been approved for the extension of this beautiful boutique hotel in one of London’s most exciting cultural and entertainment destinations.
Our experience of hotel space planning, and dealing with historic properties, helped us meet the challenge of transforming the existing office space into hotel rooms, while preserving and reinstating the heritage value of the building.”
Henrietta Street has some fine architecture and a mix of shops and restaurants, typical of the Covent Garden area. Number 14 Henrietta Street was for many decades from the late 1920s the offices of publisher Victor Gollancz and saw many notable authors, including Daphne du Maurier and Kingsley Amis, enter and leave through its fine front door.