Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced today the debut of its 10th brand, Tribute Portfolio, in Europe with the signing and conversion of the Great Northern Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. Having launched in April this year, Tribute Portfolio is comprised of outstanding independent hotels and resorts, promising owners, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members and guests alike the ability to “Stay Independent.” The signing of the Great Northern Hotel—a historic King’s Cross London landmark known as “the world’s first great railway hotel” marks a significant step in the brand’s global roll-out.
The hotel is situated within the new Western Concourse of King’s Cross and just 25 meters from the Eurostar terminus at St. Pancras International. Having first opened in 1854, the hotel has been refurbished and re-designed by Victorian master builder Lewis Cubitt to evoke the grace of the building’s past. The Cubitt rooms feature high ceilings and large twin sash windows, filling the rooms with natural light, while the Couchette rooms serve as interpretations of a traditional railway carriage car sleeper. The Wainscot rooms, located on the top floor of the hotel, have high mansard style ceilings and are lined with Black American Walnut Wainscot paneling.
Guests can enjoy a variety of dining options that showcase flavors of English cuisine. Plum + Spilt Milk, located one flight up the hotel’s original grand staircase, offers simple British dishes using seasonal and carefully-sourced ingredients. The restaurant, whose name originates from the lively colors of the dining cars pulled by the Flying Scotsman, features 120 hand blown glass pendants and banquette-based furniture, handmade by Boffi of Milan. The GNH Bar opens directly into King’s Cross station and features etched mirror ceilings, an organically shaped pewter and marble bar and two grand crystal chandeliers.
“We are delighted to welcome the Great Northern Hotel as the first Tribute Portfolio property in Europe,” said Dave Marr, global brand leader for Tribute Portfolio and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel has been designed with such meticulous attention to detail, and we’re excited to stand alongside Mr. Jeremy Robson as he continues to bring his independent vision to life.”
As with all Tribute Portfolio hotels, the Great Northern Hotel features a selection of #ourlikes, the brand’s list of on-property experiences that travelers love about “staying independent.” These socially-sourced vignettes highlight the secret spots, must-sees, and can’t-miss experiences of each Tribute Portfolio property.
#Ourlikes for The Great Northern Hotel include the building’s distinct exterior architecture; the Cubitt Room, named after the hotel’s master builder, featuring Jielde table lamps on either side of the bed; whimsical luggage and door tags, which offer classic line drawings of bellman and other noteworthy hotel features; the King’s Cross Kiosk, featuring roast meat sandwiches; the self-serve Pantry located on each floor; Plum + Spilt Milk restaurant, offering fine British cuisine in a design-focused setting; and the GNH Bar, with its convivial nightlife in a stylish setting, offering the signature Lady Violet cocktail, paying homage to a former resident from the hotel’s glory days.
