Middle Eight Hotel, Covent Garden

Last Current on April 11, 2022

Luxury lodge hits all the appropriate notes

Situated on the edge of Covent Backyard garden, Center Eight is a magnificent 5-star lodge with a musical heritage. Middle Eight is a musical phrase and references a previous developing on this web-site, the popular classical recording venue Kingsway Hall.  Not quite a few hotels have their individual in-property club but fittingly Middle Eight hosts a DJ as very well as thrice a 7 days live performance nights at its subterranean QT bar. Go to in excess of a weekend and you can working experience supper, mattress and breakfast as well as a display – a stop by that hits all the right notes. The hotel is splendidly situated for holidaymakers or staycationers. A handful of minutes’ stroll in a single way brings a single to the John Soames Museum, in a further to the Royal Opera Property and the coronary heart of Covent Backyard garden. A 10-minute stroll down to The Strand allows one to cross over to the Southbank for galleries, theatre, dining places and riverside walks. It is pretty close to Holborn underground station so easily available on general public transport. It tends to make an excellent stayover for people in city for a show.

As one particular may possibly count on from a 5-star hotel, Center 8 exudes luxury and has a present-day and peaceful ambience enhanced by the use of natural materials – wood, marble and concrete. On coming into the spacious double-peak lobby, one particular is met with a magnificent wall panel created from massive parts of tree root. The gorgeous wood décor is continued at the distinctive examine-in desk which is completely gorgeous. The use of pure elements presents intriguing texture as nicely as a thematic style through this gorgeous hotel from the pattern on the carpets, to the ceiling of the big bar spot which is hung with 2500 copper maple leaves.

The identify of the in-home cafe, Sycamore Vina Cucina carries on the references to wooden.  Textured surfaces are in proof anywhere 1 appears to be like from the brushed concrete walls on the staircases which are superbly paired with gold bannisters and stairwells – to the wallpaper in the corridors. It is tempting to run one’s fingers about each individual surface. The staircases up to the mezzanine and down to the basement QT bar are styled with gold lights and manufactured me ponder whether they are motivated by the Zeppelin track Stairway to Heaven.

Visitors are pampered from the instant of arrival at Center 8. Demonstrated to an spot with comfy seating down below a drastically embellished, undulating wall embedded with a row of mesmerising pebble fireplaces, we were provided a decision of prosecco, juice or water. Check out-in took area as guests sipped their drinks though team members circulated with iPads. Pretty a change from queuing up with one’s baggage at a Reception desk.

Invited to critique the lodge overnight, we were being delighted to be demonstrated to a single of the suites on the very first flooring. The hotel’s 12 suites are the epitome of luxury some with indoor terraces and all with an indoor wall backyard. The suites are just about every named following a piece of songs – ours was Variations – and a bespoke playlist is presented for every. Whilst listening to Bowie I appeared about and believed that I would not adjust a matter. It was all simply just fantastic from the freestanding bathtub in a marble-tiled rest room to the circular wall backyard in the kitchen area/bar. The only downside of this sort of a beautiful suite was that it engendered dissatisfaction with my personal residence. Why do my kitchen area, bedroom and toilet not resemble this set of rooms? I guess that is the natural beauty of resorts which are, right after all, a area in which to pay a visit to a fantasy world.

The bedroom was filled with an great bed which was splendidly comfortable with copious pillows and lovely linen.  It experienced a present day 4-poster bed body which included depth to the place. A significant wall hung Television set, intriguing lighting and thoughtful bedside looking at extra private touches. The lights panels were nearly much too subtle for me but enabled guests to set up the lighting of the rooms in a seemingly infinite variety of choices. The rest room was open up plan to the bedroom but had a sliding panel for those people who could choose to independent the rooms. Twin basins, a rainfall shower, beautiful goods by Anatomē, attractive taps and fixtures all created for an inviting working experience and I shed no time jogging a hot tub and soaking up the high-class ambiance. Afterwards, I relaxed in the most snuggly bathrobe I have ever encountered in a resort – so superb that I questioned at Reception if they offered them. Sadly, they do not.

The kitchen/bar space was incredibly trendy in dark wooden with gold trim and an accent wall housing a massive spherical wall backyard garden which brought the outside in.  A big flat-roofed skylight allow in oodles of sunshine and when evening fell, there was an possibility of lighting that adjusted colour. The complimentary minibar was stocked with nevertheless and glowing h2o, a craft beer, a bottle of rosé, tender beverages and contemporary milk. There have been also refillable bottles of purified tap water which attendees are invited to use. It is a collaboration with Be part of The Pipe, the bottles are designed from sugarcane and BPA free plastic which is committed to cutting down plastic squander and providing access to secure drinking water close to the earth.  On the countertop was a small cloche with contemporary pastries and a Nespresso machine.

Great high quality tea from Tea Palace was all I wanted to make my afternoon entire as I sat in the Tv location which is open plan to the kitchen and properties another large flatscreen. An electrical pebble fireplace extra heat and atmosphere it being a quite chilly working day. I sipped my tea from a attractive Villeroy and Boch cup and saucer which was accompanied by a gold teaspoon. These gold accents are apparent all through the décor from modish lamps to the bathroom taps to the chainmail curtains in the hotel’s bar. They bring a observe of stylish class and opulence. No detail is much too compact for a little bit of fun – the notepaper for guests’ use is styled as sheet tunes paper which took me suitable back to my childhood new music theory exams.  An entrance location to the suite is lined with bookshelves with an array of relevant textbooks this kind of as Bowie biographies and titles on London, style, songs, art, food items and literature. 1 would need a week in the suite to even scratch the floor of the textbooks on offer you.  There is a alternative of wooden board video games ought to one particular experience in need to have of extra enjoyment. 

The several hours flew by right until 7 pm when our complimentary signature cocktails were to be sent. I experienced wondered no matter whether they may well be built in the place as there was a stunning mixologist set shown in the kitchen area. As it was a waiter arrived with our beverages on a tray and left them for us on the kitchen island at which ended up positioned a few designer barstools. When the cocktails arrived I was examining Stanley Tucci’s guide, Flavor, in which he discusses his adore of cocktails. I reckon Tucci would be really delighted with Middle Eight’s signature cocktail – rhubarb gin, elderflower, grapefruit and prosecco.

Quite chilled, we went down to supper at the floor ground restaurant, Sycamore Vino Cucina, an Italian themed eatery guiding the resort bar which was humming on a Saturday night. The restaurant has an open strategy kitchen and marble-topped tables with banquettes and comfy chairs in shades of blue and pops of mustard. The supervisor, David, took care of us with grace and equally he and his personnel contributed to earning our supper a specific knowledge. The restaurant’s menu has a assortment of Italian favourites which includes a choice of Neapolitan pizzas. The remarkable wine checklist leans in the direction of Italian wines with a choice at all price tag factors. We settled on a 2017 Montepulciano D’abruzzo, Gianni Masciarelli which was smooth, spicy and smoky.  We selected from a sizeable range of antipasti and primi dishes and 6 secondi, with a fantastic preference throughout for vegetarians and pescatarians. We commenced with granchio cannelloni and pappardelle al ragu. The new pasta was al dente, the sauces flavoursome and the portions suitably sized. The cannelloni was loaded with crab, ricotta and courgette which was exceptional and definitely a dish to return for.

Tagliata di Manzo happy my meat-taking in partner who appreciated his steak that was fantastically medium uncommon and properly seasoned, served as is conventional with rocket, balsamic and Parmesan shavings. I loved a dish of Cacciucco which is a Tuscan seafood stew. It experienced a foundation of sweet, jammy tomato sauce on major of which perched fillets of white fish, and a handful every single of mussel, clam and prawns. We have been in no will need of dessert just after this hearty meal yet chosen a tiramisu which arrived with a crispy coconut tuile and a ricotta and pistachio cheesecake with a scoop of cappuccino ice cream perched on a espresso ganache which was a sweet crumb. This was a fairly slice, with a subtle lemon flavour with the pistachio cream artfully piped on top rated.

Getting a girl of a particular age, a write-up-prandial cup of chamomile and my e book would have been the perfect nightcap, but extra is in store for people being at Center Eight on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. The basement QT bar hosts The Inexperienced Place, a clearly show fronted by Leo Inexperienced, a charismatic saxophonist who at the time played with Van Morrison. The set, with 3 vocalists and a backing quartet, was high octane and the younger audience had been on their ft dancing and singing alongside with delight. QT has a compact menu and an impressive established of cocktails and beverages and is clearly a pretty well-liked location for a great evening out. For those people remaining at Center Eight, there is so substantially to do at the hotel that there is no require to depart soon after examine-in and we did not. In addition to the bar and lounge place, there is also The Balcony, a bookshelf lined mezzanine place exactly where friends can appreciate a conventional afternoon tea or sit quietly to examine or get the job done.

Breakfast is served in the Sycamore or can be ordered from place assistance. Friends can pick between a countertop buffet like a established of pastries, granola, bircher muesli and fruit or purchase from a list of egg-centered selections. The pastries and granola are home made. I tasted a crispy croissant which was quite fantastic. The granola seemed pretty topped with fruit.  I chosen eggs, Benedict, with smoked salmon served on a slice of focaccia which was a good Italian touch. At breakfast, I observed a few of visitors dressed in athletics equipment and assumed they had presently produced use of the fitness center services presented in the basement fitness suite.

Soon after breakfast, I had an opportunity to have a appear at some of the other rooms possibilities at Center 8. The color plan of turquoise and a silvery gold runs through – in just one place the turquoise surprises as the colour of the trendy basin, in another, it is employed on an accent wall or the ceiling. The fabrics on the chairs and sofas are magnificent, the designer’s hand is obvious in the smallest specifics. There are accessible rooms as well as individuals with desks for friends who will need to operate while keeping at Middle 8. The suites are quite popular for specific occasions – proposals and celebrations – and the lodge gives a bespoke decorating services if demanded.

A lodge might be fantastically styled but it is the personnel who make it really feel like a welcoming and calm place to keep. At Center Eight, the elegantly dressed entrance of property staff members could not be more welcoming and eager to assistance with questions. They are quite properly trained, and have a best stability of becoming polite and pleasant, often on hand to assist but not intrusive.

Middle Eight is a sophisticated, lavish still available hotel in the coronary heart of London. It is properly positioned for people to the town who desire to be centrally located for musicals, opera, theatre, eating places and sight-viewing. It has every little thing a guest could want from the employees to the amenities. On weekends friends can dance the night absent with in-property leisure or rest in one of several lounge parts which are all plush and inviting. I still left reluctantly but with a spring in my step, humming the chorus to Bowie’s Alterations.

Middle 8 Lodge
66 Great Queen Street
Covent Back garden
London WC2B 5BX