Pilgrim a sign of progress

New London hotel offers a central location at a decent price, finds Emma Newlands

Having stayed in a spectrum of London hotels over the years, I‘ve bedded down in everything from budget B&BS that have been perfectly serviceable to luxurious pads bigger than my Edinburgh flat.

The Pilgrm hotel in Paddington is targeting the best of both worlds, offering stylish rooms in a central location at a decent price. A venture by long-time collaborators Jason Catifeoglou, Andreas Thrasyvoulou and Steph Thrasyvoulou, this means cutting back on features such as telephones, minibars and trouser presses in favour of fab interiors that wouldn’t be amiss in a style bible.

The entrance, a mere stone’s throw from Paddington Tube station, is so discreet, that I actually walk straight past it.

You check in online and collect the keys from the counter at the in-house cafe (a replacement for a conventional reception area) on the ground floor next to a grand timber staircase that apparently took 300 man hours to restore to its former glory.

The artisan cafe is open to the public and is an ultra trendy combination of charcoal floors and walls, with plant-covered shelves and a range of artfully displayed style magazines.

Suitcase in tow, I head up to my room, past the cast iron balustrades on the stairs, which were apparently uncovered after some 50 layers of paint built up over the past 100 years were removed. The hotel has 73 rooms spread across the restored Victorian property, ranging from bunk rooms with no TV through small and medium to large (which all come with a TV). There is also free high-speed wifi.

My large room is just big enough, with light grey walls, and wooden panelling made out of 200-year-old parquet flooring on either side of the bed, above which sit more small shelves with plants. The radiator is also restored, with those throughout the hotel reclaimed from hospitals and schools, while there are Tom Dixon cloud carpets.

I find the full-length mirror with a small rail behind for hanging clothes – apparently a “wail” or wardroberail combo – and above it, a Marshall speaker.

All the rooms apparently house “feature pieces from a unique collection of original artwork”, and in my case this is a somewhat unexpected life drawing of a naked man. “I’m not sure how I’d feel about having that in my room,” says the husband of a couple I meet later on my London visit.

There’s also a hairdryer, and Egyptian cotton sheets and towels, and in the bathroom – in many ways the acid test of a hotel’s calibre – a

proper, spacious shower, rather than a bath. There are also REN toiletries, particularly welcome as I left my own moisturiser at home, and the towels are both plentiful and fluffy.

There are no tea and coffee making facilities in the rooms, but I don’t mind popping down the hallway to the 24-hour pantry to make a quick cuppa before dinner.

The setting – the lounge – is elegantly decorated, with charcoals offset by chairs upholstered in corals, greys and bright prints. It’s a good hideaway if you’re ever in the area and seeking out somewhere for a drink, with a cocktail menu featuring recipes on loan from hotels around the world including Bar Trench in Tokyo and The Midnight Rambler in Dallas, USA.

They, however, sound somewhat lethal, so I focus on the food, ordering fish tacos, with the portion much smaller than I expected but tasty nonetheless, which I follow up with a cheese platter. The Egyptian sheets are then calling and I head up for a comfy night’s sleep.

The next morning I return to the lounge for breakfast, where I have a pain au chocolat followed by sourdough toast and marmalade (I’m following the “if you eat two portions

Clockwise from main: the restored staircase at The Pilgrim; the Lounge; a Large bedroom

of carbs they cancel each other out” rule) although I could have gone for say, their take on a fry-up or sweet potato toast topped with guacamole.

I decide to then explore what is a little-known area of London to me and head to nearby Hyde Park, pursuing a zig-zag path through the greenery, before heading along to the contrasting hustle and bustle of Bayswater, up to the tranquillity of Little Venice and then to Warwick Avenue, all the while enviously admiring some of the vast homes I walk past.

You could instead head north east to the likes of Baker Street, Madame Tussauds and Regent’s Park, or head to Paddington station itself where there are trains to Heathrow. King’s Cross is a short Tube ride away, as is most of central London.

The Pilgrm has managed to succeed where I know many have failed, marrying practicality and style in a prime location with a common-sense approach that actually understands what guests want (unless you don’t want to have to leave your room to get a coffee – or are in desperate need of a bath, desk or freshly pressed trousers). Worth a pilgrimage. ■

The Pilgrim has succeeded in marrying practicality and style

A night at The Pilgrm starts at £99 for a Bunk room and £129 for a Small room. The Pilgrm, 25 London Street, London W2 1HH, www.thepilgrm. com, booking@thepilgrm.com