Soho House is to overhaul dining landmark Kettner’s restaurant in the West End into its next boutique hotel to add to its popular portfolio.
Nick Jones’ booming brand will transform the famed venue, which was founded in 1867 and once counted Agatha Christie and Bing Crosby as customers, into the 28-bedroom Kettner’s Townhouse due for relaunch in 2018.The original Kettner’s restaurant was the first in Soho to serve French food and was at the peak of its high-society fame in the early 20th century.
The Soho icon will now see its upper floors taken over by the members’ only club and turned into 28 bedroom suites, as detailed in the extensive plans submitted by Soho House and Soho Estates. The space is currently being used by Kettner’s as private dining rooms and if Westminster council gives the project the green light, work will begin in January and is scheduled to take two years.
The project will involve upgrading an entire block of Georgian townhouses, bounded by Greek Street, Romilly Street and Old Compton Street. A yard at the centre of the block will be redeveloped to add more space to Soho House. In its planning application Soho House said it will “look to pay homage to its history and reinstate some of its former grandeur”.
A joint statement from Soho Estates and Soho House said the project would be a “sensitive restoration” of the historic site that will “reinvigorate” Kettner’s, restore the building’s original interiors, and create a “pavilion” in the courtyard with a bar and outside courtyard for members to enjoy.