The Londoner Hotel, Macau

BACKGROUND

The Londoner Hotel, which opened in early 2021, is an all-suite 600-room hotel within the Londoner

Macao integrated resort. The latter had its grand opening in May last year, with brand ambassador David Beckham in attendance. The resort comprises five hotels; in addition to The Londoner Hotel, it houses the Conrad Macao, the Sheraton Grand Macao, the St Regis Macao and Londoner Court. This enormous complex, with a life-size Elizabeth Tower (that’s Big Ben to most of us) and a façade based on the United Kingdom’s Palace of Westminster, is the result of a total reworking of the former Sands Cotai Central complex. The resort is owned by Sands China, which also owns the nearby Venetian Macao, Sands Macao, The Plaza Macao (which includes the Four Seasons Hotel Macao) and The Parisian Macao.

WHERE IS IT? On the Cotai Strip, the “Las Vegas of the East”. This reclaimed strip of land connects the former islands of Taipa and Coloane, and has a series of astonishing landmarks fronting its casinos. The

Venetian, one of the largest buildings in the world, has more than 3,000 rooms and features a St Mark’s Campanile and Rialto Bridge. Close by and in front of The Parisian Macao is a half-scale Eiffel Tower.

Groups of red-coated guardsmen parade around the premises

WHAT’S IT LIKE? Like many hotels in Macau, it is remarkable for its sheer scale and audacity. Besides Big Ben and the parliamentary façade, the lobby has a replica of the Eros statue of Piccadilly Circus, set within a sea of black-and-white marble flooring, a Crystal Palace-style atrium, and statues of famous Brits such as

Elizabeth I, Henry VIII and Winston Churchill. Groups of red-coated guardsmen and London bobbies parade around the premises, obligingly stopping for Instagram moments. An original 1966 red Routemaster London bus is also a popular backdrop for photos. The Shoppes at Londoner mall continue with the British theme, with blue plaques commemorating people such as Agatha Christie and Charles Darwin, both of whom lived there, apparently. There are, of course, two huge casinos on the ground floor.

Music piped in public spaces and lifts is by British artists only. In the lift lobbies, statues – whether they be a punk rocker, Shakespeare or even Margaret Thatcher – greet guests.

ROOMS

I stayed in a 75 sqm Louis suite, on the 23rd floor. Hong Kong’s famed Steve Leung Design Group is behind the gentlemen’s club atmosphere, with plenty of brown, black, grey and beige, and textured walls and marble aplenty. In addition to the bedroom and living room are a spacious dressing room, foyer and a lavish marble bathroom equipped with a free-standing Victorian-style bathtub, twin basins and smart toilet, and a walk-in shower with body jets and a rain shower. Toiletries are by Aromatherapy Associates. The living room

Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill serves staples such as an excellent beef Wellington

features a sofa, high-backed leather armchair with footstool, 75-inch TV, writing desk with USB sockets and power points on hand, a Nespresso machine and a surprisingly effective OTO Q foot massager. The bedroom has a truly enormous and very comfortable bed, another 75-inch TV, a pillow menu, an ioniser and control panels for lighting and air-conditioning. Curtains and drapes in both rooms are automated. Eye-catching art features London landmarks and street scenes.

Guests on this floor and others in the upper levels of the tower have access to the 3rd-floor Residence, with exclusive dining room and bar, and a concierge service. Breakfast is served here, and along with Western and Chinese staples, the lobster Benedict is a must.

FOOD AND DRINK There are numerous outlets throughout the resort. Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill serves British staples such as an excellent beef Wellington with mushroom and truffle duxelles (MOP598/ US$74), as does Churchill’s Table, which is inspired by a Victorian food hall and has favourites like Guinness braised beef pie and mash (MOP98/US$12). Chiado Portuguese restaurant is overseen by celebrity chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, The Mews serves Thai, while the Huiyang cuisine of Jiangsu province is served in the one-Michelin-starred

Huiyang Garden. Guests at The Londoner Hotel can charge meals to their room at any restaurant owned by Sands China properties.

MEETINGS Sands China has a strong presence in the Macau MICE sector, and The Londoner Macao has more than 20,000 sqm of convention space, the 6,000-seat London Arena, 11 ballrooms and 19 meeting rooms.

LEISURE The hotel has six swimming pools, a fully equipped health club and the Bodhi spa which, among other treatments, offers a wonderfully relaxing Lapidem Five Elements massage.

VERDICT The London theme may be a little over the top, but the suites are truly comfortable, relaxing and beautifully appointed. The dining, leisure and shopping are also excellent. The MICE facilities are comprehensive and well thought out. Nick Goodyer