Whether you’re in the capital for work or play, with its unique location and glamorous ‘golden age of flight’ interior, the Hotel Verta is a must-visit, says Angelina Villa-Clarke
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With around 15 new hotels opening in the capital this year alone, it’s clear you need a very special USP to set you apart from the competition. When it comes to glitzy one-upmanship, however, Hotel Verta, von Essen’s first urban property, has played an ace. The owners of Clivedon, Berkshire and Lower Slaughter Manor in the Cotswolds have built their first ‘new build’ overlooking the London Heliport in Battersea, making it the city’s only heliport hotel. Not for their guests is arrival by lowly car.
Initially it strikes you that this is a little down-at-heel area for the likes of von Essen — their stable of country house hotels are the kind which are found in sprawling estates with immaculate grounds. Battersea is rather grey, and not very glam, in comparison.
But step inside the curvy, shimmering, all-glass exterior and you see at once the jet-set appeal. Taking inspiration from a bygone era of glamorous travel – specifically 1930s’ jet air travel — the hotel’s design is haute-luxe at its best. The lobby is all polished brass and gold metallics, images of glamorous travellers and vintage furniture. There’s a feeling of immense space — much like an aircraft hangar – but made cosy and appealing with a warm colour palette, interesting artworks and sumptuous leather chairs.
The restaurant, Patrisey — it’s the Anglo-Saxon word for Battersea — is on the same level. Its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and buzzing open kitchen are a nice, contemporary touch. The brasserie-style menu is perfect for lunch but the chef could do with vamping it up a notch to attract more of a sophisticated foodie crowd for dinner.
The upstairs Vertilon Bar, however, is super-glam and the perfect place to seek out a Metropolitan. A spiral staircase leads you up to the mezzanine level where vintage Velum suitcases and Pop Art depictions of Battersea Power Station are mixed in with lush, emerald green velvet sofas perfectly situated in secluded little enclaves. There’s archive London photography lining the walls while the anthracite and marble bar transports you back to the glamour of the Thirties.
The aviation theme continues into the bedrooms. Cute artwork consists of A-Z maps folded into paper aeroplanes and set in rows into glass frames, while oversized, leather headboards and sleek marble bathrooms are softened with lush fabrics and linens from Designers Guild and Osborne & Little. If you love gadgetry then you’ll adore this place — everything is a souped-up version of itself: intelligent room cooling systems, high-tech remote controls, even a TV at the end of the bath that seems to do everything apart from wash the guests.
The best bit however is the view across the heliport — it’s surprisingly riveting watching the helicopters take off and land and the people spotting that then ensues. It’s also incredible to witness the number of helicopters that are used in London. Recession? You’d never know it existed here.
In the basement is Spa Verta. It’s a cocooning space — jewel-like mosaics glimmer above the hydro vitality pool and there’s a sauna, steam room and samarium on offer too. A whole host of Anne Semonin treatments are available across four treatment rooms. While the state-of-the-art Technogym equipment is perfect for those pilots on stand-by who want to stay in tip-top condition.
Watch out Battersea, the jet-set have arrived.
Hotel Verta, Bridges Wharf, Battersea, London SW11 3BE 20 7801 3500; hotelverta.com). Room rates start from £200 per room per night.
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Hotel Verta, Verta