Hotel Openings: That’s music to our ears

New openings look to attract discerning guests with some spectacular features.

The site of Hotel Indigo London K West Shepherd’s Bush was once BBC Kensington House, where legendary artists like David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley recorded.

But it’s just opened with a determination to be one of West London’s most anticipated new lifestyle hotels. A design-led destination defined by standout food and drink, expansive wellness facilities and a strong connection to its local community, the hotel will feature 231 rooms and suites, including generously sized Signature Suites and Garden Rooms. Interiors balance sleek, contemporary lines with warm textures and layered materials.

The hotel will champion local partnerships, collaborating with West London breweries, distilleries and producers to create a distinctly local food and drink experiences. It will also celebrate local creativity and history via artwork carefully curated by ArtStory.

Later this year K West Spa will open and feature an extensive thermal suite, two spa gardens, two dedicated couples suites, six beautifully designed treatment rooms, a fully equipped gym and serene relaxation spaces.

While firmly focused on the future, the hotel’s design subtly nods to that past as a BBC recording studio, with carefully considered references woven into a fresh, contemporary aesthetic. Reclaimed and reused materials have been incorporated throughout, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and responsible design.

The Shepherd Mayfair has unveiled a first look at rooms and suites ahead of its summer opening. Part of the Elegant Hotels Collection, it has 82 guest rooms and suites arranged over six floors. Accommodation categories range from suites including The Shepherd Suites and Mayfair Suites to standard and superior rooms and those designed for shorter stays and solo travellers.

Positioned as the gateway to historic Shepherd Market and with interiors designed by Timothy Shepherd of Shepherd and design studio, guest rooms and suites are individually configured to reflect the building’s townhouse origins, with layouts shaped by the proportions of each space, many incorporating window seats overlooking Shepherd Market and Mayfair.

Interiors pair warm timber finishes with lighter tonal palettes and softly curved upholstery, accented by blue detailing and red velvet curtains. Subtle references to British craftsmanship appear throughout, set against darker, more atmospheric spaces.

Desks are designed to convert into dressing tables, while console tables transform into chessboards, complemented by concealed lighting that creates a relaxed, intimate atmosphere. Each desk is finished with a classic banker’s lamp, allowing the space to function comfortably for work when not in use as a vanity, and includes a discreet integrated safe. Bathrooms are finished in marble and stocked with Floris amenities presented in bespoke bottles created exclusively for The Shepherd Mayfair, with selected rooms offering baths and separate seating areas.

Corridors feature a curated collection of artworks by British photographer Jack English, many of which are being exhibited publicly for the first time, alongside works by fine art photographer George McLeod.

In Scotland a hotel overlooking the old course in the heart of St Andrews will open in the summer following a £7.5 million investment. The

Kithmore will welcome guests from June. In a previous life the B-listed Georgian townhouse operated as Ardgowan Hotel, but this transformation by Marram Hotel Partners Ltd makes it very much a new 44-bedroom hotel.

Tech-led aparthotel operator Bob W will have its first property on the island of Ireland with the opening of a new-build 84-unit property in Belfast this summer. It features smart room technology, rooftop garden and digital front desk services. Bob W Belfast City Centre will have an in-house gym, rooftop garden and externally managed café at ground level, creating an activated mixed-use environment for guests and the local community. All the apartments include fully equipped kitchens.

The company now has a portfolio of 7,000 plus units across major cities in Europe and the UK, with additional openings planned throughout 2026 and beyond.

Meanwhile, Resident Hotels, the privately-owned independent hotel company behind the award-winning hotel brand, The Resident, is rebranding as The Sirius Hotel Group. The ambition is to grow with capital partners as a specialist hotel management platform operating prime city centre hotels. Last year saw the successful conversion of Four Points Flex by Sheraton, which cemented the group’s partnership as a Marriott International franchise and the trading performance success of The Resident Edinburgh, which opened at the end of 2024.

They hope to grow the portfolio by more than 20 hotels in the next six to 10 years, taking the group to 31 hotels.

Hilton has announced two new Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotels in Plymouth and Cork, continuing the expansion of its lifestyle portfolio across the UK and Ireland, beyond the biggest cities. They will open in 2027.