There is a serious shortage of hotels in West London, and luxury hotels seem almost non-existent. So I’m sure many breathed a sigh of relief when architect Flanagan Lawrence renovated the derelict grade 2 listed Pavilion in Shepherd’s Bush and presented a dazzling cinema inspired hotel.
I lived in Shepherd’s Bush for nearly two years and visiting the Dorsett Hotel was always on my to do list. The building is stylish and sleek and has a bold presence in this busy area of London. As neighbour to the iconic Shepherd’s Bush Empire I imagine it has had quite a few stars under its roof.
The building was once a cinema, and there are filmic touches in the décor throughout the hotel paying homage to this history. Some parts feel business-orientated while other parts have glitzy and glamorous features such as the golden atrium. There are 317 rooms to choose from and two contrasting restaurants in which to dine.
We were in a lovely suite on the third floor. The room was decorated in muted browns and golden beiges, with soft lighting and comfortable furnishings. Some quirky mix-matched plate artwork on the walls and oriental wallpaper in the bedroom added personality and flair to an otherwise quite ‘grown up’ room. The bed was exceedingly comfortable, so much so that I had my longest lie-in of the year yet, testament also to how relaxed I felt at The Dorsett.
The bathroom included a ‘wet room’ with a bath and shower. I found this inner glass room slightly claustrophobic and cramped, though the shower was powerful and refreshing. Aloe Vera and Green Leaf flavoured toiletries are provided by Eco-boutique, a brand I’d never heard of before.
Conveniently close to Westfield, I imagine many would go out to eat. However the restaurants at The Dorsett offer great food at reasonable prices, in the comfort of the hotel. We enjoyed a fruity and exotic cocktail in Jin before heading to Pictures for dinner. This restaurant offers a range of contemporary classics and has recently welcomed a new summer inspired menu.
We enjoyed a three course dinner at Pictures. The menu is predominantly made up of English recipes with a hint of exotic Asian flavours. Calamari were a firm favourite with my dinner date, who raved about the tender seafood coated in a thick crunchy aromatic coating. For main course the sirloin steak had a lovely flavour, though I felt it was a bit overcooked. Served with an assortment of Portobello mushrooms, vine tomatoes and skinny fries it was a very generous portion of food. The risotto was the perfect summer delight, a thick and creamy sauce with fresh pea shoots, asparagus and broad beans topped with shavings of parmesan.
We took the remainder of the wine and our desserts upstairs to enjoy at a leisurely pace in front of a film. If you only get one to share, choose the Pineapple Upside Down Cake, sweet, soft and delicious – it is paired with cherries and vanilla custard. A perfectly comforting dessert to finish a meal.
Breakfast next morning was also served in Pictures and I was amazed to see the range of Chinese inspired breakfast dishes on offer, catering for the Asian guests at the hotel.
Filling a huge gap in the market, I am not surprised that The Dorsett regularly fills its 317 bedrooms. Near to many top West London venues and just ten minutes tube ride from Central London, this hotel is a great option for accommodation.
More information on the Dorsett Hotel and restaurants here.
