SOFITEL LONDON ST JAMES CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY
First opening its doors on 30th April, 2002, as a luxury 183-bedroom hotel, Sofitel London St James was originally built in 1923 to house the headquarters of Cox & King Bank, which was later acquired by Lloyds Bank. Today, guests can still see items from the property’s banking past displayed across the hotel.
Now, twenty years later, the property is a flagship hotel for the Sofitel brand and a cornerstone of London’s luxury hotel scene. The award-winning Central London hotel features a fresh design following a multi-million-pound renovation in 2019 under the creative eye of world-renowned designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The property’s overhaul included a vibrant new design across its rooms, Rose Lounge (home to afternoon tea), St James Bar, plus the addition of Wild Honey St James restaurant, which was recently awarded a Michelin Star.
The Grade II listed, neoclassical building is positioned on the corner of Waterloo Place, moments away from Buckingham Palace and Pall Mall, making the hotel’s soon to launch summer terrace one of the most sought-after destinations for Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June. Open seven days a week, the terrace will serve dishes designed by Michelin star chef Anthony Demetre alongside Aperitivo style drinks.
Over the past two decades, Sofitel London St James has been committed to delivering unparalleled service which pays tribute to French Art de Vivre, with notable awards won to date, including Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards 2021, TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award 2020 and Forbes Travel Guide.
Commenting on Sofitel London St James’ anniversary, Marie-Paule Nowlis, General Manager at the hotel says:
“This year we look back on 20 years of hospitality, service, and the luxury we are synonymous for. We continuously strive to create an environment for our guests to feel a sense of value and belonging, so that they feel at home when staying with us.
“In honour of our Silver Anniversary we are delighted to share stories from our hotel’s history.”
About Sofitel London St James
Originally opened in 2002, Sofitel London St James sits at the heart of London’s tailoring district, just footsteps from Buckingham Palace, Leicester Square and St James’ Park. Building upon the legacy of the building’s rich heritage as a banking institution, the Accor hotel underwent a £16.5m refurbishment project in 2019 under the creative direction of Pierre-Yves Rochon, renovating the 183 guest rooms with modern, bold interior design and reaffirming Sofitel London St James’s as the home of luxury French elegance in London. In line with the renovation, Chef Anthony Demetre’s successful Mayfair restaurant reopened at the hotel, bringing Wild Honey St James to life alongside the St James Bar.
About Sofitel
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts is an ambassador of modern French style, culture and art-de-vivre around the world. Established in 1964, Sofitel is the first international luxury hotel brand to originate from France with more than 120 chic and remarkable hotels in the world’s most sought after destinations. Sofitel exudes a refined and understated sense of modern luxury, always blending a touch of French decadence with the very best of the locale. The Sofitel collection includes such notable hotels as Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg, Sofitel London St James, Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, Sofitel Mexico City Reforma, Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour and Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort. Sofitel is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.
Press contacts
Bethany Hadrill
PR, Media & Partnership Manager
bethany.hadrill@sofitel.com
Kristen Roman
PR & Media Relations Manager
Accor, UKI and Nordics
kristen.roman@accor.com