The Dorchester’s Big Reveal: The First Stage Of Its London Renovation Is Unveiled

Any hotel buffs recognising the names Pierre Yves-Rochon and Martin Brudnizki will know that when these hotel designers make their mark on a space, the results are nothing short of spectacular.

It’s apt therefore that both designers have had a hand in the highly-anticipated first stage of the iconic Dorchester’s revamp. Unveiled earlier this month, the hotel has reopened its ground-floor Promenade area and two new bar concepts – the Vesper Bar and the Artists’ Bar.

What to expect? As you might imagine, the new look is the opposite of low-key – perfectly fitting given The Dorchester’s storied heritage which has attracted the world’s great and good since 1931.

Pierre-Yves Rochon has overseen The Promenade, which seems to positively shimmer with its new glow-up. Taking inspiration from the British landscape and nature, sage-green ceilings are given a flourish with gold-leaf accents, striking pillars add a sense of grandeur and huge blooms of pastel flowers scent the air as if you are walking through an English country garden.

Baby-blue sofas and candy-pink armchairs create mini vignettes – they are the perfect spaces for guests to order drinks or food, or simply take in the art that hangs along the length of the room. For, it turns out that The Promenade is home to an original collection of contemporary artworks by British artists. The diverse collection, covering a variety of media and techniques, all have the theme of nature at their heart.

Also celebrating British art is the new Artist’s Bar, located towards the end of The Promenade. The dramatic mirrored ceiling, an oversized crystal chandelier and swirling-patterned carpets underfoot give a nod to the glamour of the 30s and, of course, the era that The Dorchester first opened its doors. The bar itself is made from Lalique crystal, while nearby sits Liberace’s legendary mirrored piano, which has been meticulously restored to take pride of place.

Cocktails are served tableside on bespoke trolleys to create a touch of theatre and have been created to reflect the bar’s eclectic collection of work. The pieces, by artists working in Britain, are a celebration of London, with some portraying The Dorchester’s impact on the city and celebrating the famous figures associated with the hotel.

Highlights of the collection include Ann Carrington’s work inspired by the Queen Elizabeth II postage stamp, creating a large scale silhouette of the late Queen using only mother of pearl buttons, painstakingly individually sewn by hand. At the opposite end of the bar, Ewan Eason has created an aerial view city map of the Hyde Park area of London, rendered entirely in gold leaf, with The Dorchester at its centre.

Nicely tying in the art with the drinks menu, and giving a seamless feel to proceedings, there are six signature cocktails which give a nod to the art. Stamp Duty, for instance, references Ann Carrington’s postage stamp, and features Doorly’s 3 Barbados rum, Drambuie, Oloroso sherry, lime and homemade English breakfast tea butter syrup. Gilded Sun draws on the gold leaf and delicate tones of Sue Arrowsmith’s artwork, whilst Velvet Brown pays tribute to Maria Rivas’ elaborate collage of Elizabeth Taylor – a frequent guest of the hotel – with more exotic flavours.

Culinary director, Martyn Nail has curated an elegant menu focusing on British-caught seafood to complement the cocktails and champagnes served at Artists’ Bar, (think: Caviar, Irish rock oysters, sashimi and sushi.) For something more substantial, The Promenade offers an all-day menu of breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas and suppers.

In the evening, the buzz of The Promenade is back, with a pianist tinkling the ivories and an assortment of guests gathering, chatting and socialising. You can start with a selection of delicate canapés – from quail egg tartlets to lobster arancini, while the starters are light and nicely inventive – such as lobster cannelloni and burrata with artichoke. Mains are classic crowd-pleasers and include a choice of meats and fish, cooked to perfection on the grill, or traditional dishes, such as Dover Sole Meunière and the signature Chicken & Langoustine Pie, Delica Pumpkin & Sage Risotto, and Tournedos Aberdeen Angus. To end the meal, indulgent deserts include The Dorchester signature Crêpes Suzette, flambéed tableside.

Finally, completing the ground floor renovation is the newly imagine Vesper Bar. Martin Brudnizki’s ornate design celebrates the spirit and elegance of the 30s – from the 1930s Palladium leaf ceiling to the series of Cecil Beaton pieces, which adorn the bar walls to honour a long-standing connection between the celebrated photographer/designer and the hotel. The new look taps into the glamour of this decade.

Some of Beaton’s original drawings and celebrity photography has been brought together with work by contemporary artists, such as Rosie Emmerson, who were inspired by both Beaton and the energy of that time. The ‘Glass of Fashion’ cocktail sits proudly on the menu to represent Beaton’s work (it was also the namesake of one his most famed books.)

The name, Vesper Bar, honours The Dorchester’s many connections with James Bond throughout the years. Bond author, Ian Fleming, who invented the Vesper Martini, stayed and dined at The Dorchester in the 1940s and throughout his life until he died in 1964 and when William Boyd continued the Bond series with the novel ‘Solo’, Bond wakes up in a suite at The Dorchester on his 45th birthday. During the 60s and 70s the production company for the James Bond films, EON, had an office at the hotel and throughout the decades The Dorchester has hosted many press junkets for the films and welcomed all six James Bonds, 14 Bond Girls, four M’s and nine Bond villains as guests of the hotel.

Serving up this illustrious history, the bar has been designed to feel like an atmospheric hideaway. The award-winning team of cocktail alchemists serve classic or experimental cocktails, concoctions from rare and forgotten recipes or just a glass of the ‘usual’.

Next up for the hotel is the re-design of rooms and suites, which will be unveiled in March 2023.