Not only will Friday, September 29th mark the long-awaited debut of Raffles London at the OWO, it will also celebrate the first UK hotel opening for Singapore-based Raffles Hotels & Resorts and will be the first time since its 1906 completion that Britain’s iconic Old War Office building will be open to the public.
Located in Whitehall, London’s political hub, the Grade II* listed landmark has been meticulously restored over eight years by hundreds of artisans. Historic interior elements have been revived, including delicate hand-laid mosaic floors, oak paneling, and a grand marble staircase that wraps around a two-story chandelier.
Developed in a partnership between Accor and Hinduja Group, the destination includes 120 guestrooms and suites designed by the late Thierry Despont; 85 branded residences designed by 1508 London; a grand 600-person ballroom; and a four-story, 26,900-square-foot spa—designed by Goddard Littlefair—comprising nine treatment rooms, a gym, and a 215-foot swimming pool.
The Heritage Suites in the OWO’s west wing are situated in the building’s most historically significant area—the former offices of influential political and military leaders including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George, and Sir Richard Haldane. A selection of these can be reserved as a six-bedroom suite, the Whitehall Wing.
Raffles London at the OWO is also set to be a cosmopolitan culinary hotspot with nine restaurants—including three helmed by chef Mauro Colagreco: Mauro Colagreco at Raffles London at the OWO, Mauro’s Table, and Saison—and three bars. The Guard’s Bar and Lounge will introduce the London Sling, a take on Raffles’ signature Singapore Sling cocktail, while the Spy Bar’s design hints at cloak-and-dagger moments. A forthcoming rooftop restaurant will overlook St. James’s Park, the Mall, and Buckingham Palace.
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