Back in the early noughties, I decided to indulge my passion in music and enrolled for a degree in Sound Engineering and Technology at the London School of Music. The main learning space was at 9-13 Osborn Road, which transforms into Brick Lane within a few feet and stands perpendicular to Whitechapel Road, and which was housed within the hallowed basement that was former East Sarm studios. It was the sister property to the legendary Sarm Studios in Notting Hill back in the 70’s of Bohemian Rhapsody fame – a handy connection to the Royal Borough as well. Shoreditch’s star was on the rise back then and the surrounding area, including Liverpool Street station, befitted the indie-vibes of the era. The Great Eastern Hotel inhabited the Grade II listed building dating back to 1884 and Hyatt acquired it in 2006 and rebranded it Andaz London Liverpool Street. It’s a wonder how much things can change in two decades. The decadent-in-every-way area has completely transformed and this remarkable hotel is a testament to its regeneration. Essentially located above Liverpool Street station, Andaz London straddles the spirit of City of London and trendy vigour of Shoreditch, Spitalfields and Brick Lane, making the hotel suitable for both leisure and corporate guests. 267 spacious and mostly-unique, design-led rooms are a far cry from the grandly gothic, Great Eastern vibes of the early century but the past still shines beautifully bright within this vast building despite the modern touches. Its one of those amazing spaces where City Bankers are equally at home as a group of creative fashion types.
The hotel boasts 110 King Rooms, 98 Queen Rooms, 44 Deluxe King Rooms, and 15 Suites, including seven accessible rooms across multiple room categories. There is something for every category of traveller/guest. Families may opt for to combine adjoining Twin or King Rooms to create a spacious retreat and family-friendly amenities like an Andaz London colouring kit, teddy bear, chalkboard easel, children’s robes and slippers, and a dedicated kids’ menu will kee those tots happy. Deluxe King Rooms feature a Peloton bike, weights, a yoga mat, and a complimentary minibar with healthy snacks and non-alcoholic beverages for fitness-conscious and those looking for luxury – and there’s plenty of that around- may chose the Andaz Design Suite, designed by the renowned British designer Sir Terence Conran. The remarkable suite features a Savoir bed, Eames and Karuselli chairs in the lounge plusa replica of the coffee table Sir Conran designed for his own home. The generously sized bathroom boasts a fast-fill bathtub and a walk-in shower.
To further charm and entice the public, guests can eat and drink in several distinct restaurants and bars within the hotel – each one deftly adept at delivering a distinctly different and exciting gastronomic kick.
Rake’s Café Bar is a laid-back café by day and vibrant cocktail bar by night, offering a mix of sweet and savoury breakfasts, artisan coffee, creative cocktails, oysters and champagne, bar snacks, small and large plates, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. The signature cocktail is astonishingly lovely and the staff are the most cheerful and pleasant lot
Eastway Brasserie’s all-day menu serves dishes made with locally sourced produce, from fresh vegetables to quality meat and fish. Guests may also enjoy Eastway Brasserie’s afternoon tea experience for two which can be upgraded to a glass of prosecco or a bottle of champagne.
Miyako serves authentic Japanese fare in an intimate and contemporary setting. Led by Chef Sakamoto, guests can enjoy authentic sushi, sashimi, and teriyaki, as well as expertly selected sake
A classic British pub with a twist, Lady Abercorn’s Pub & Kitchen serves food and drink from around the world to the backdrop of décor inspired by the travels of the mysterious Lady Abercorn. Lady Abercorn’s also screens live sports games, making Lady Abercorn’s Pub & Kitchen an attractive destination for sports fans.
Culinary desires sated, there are several special touches that make this hotel a stunning, must-visit-to-experience destination. The building, including the Abercorn Rooms, is of red brick with stucco and stone ground floor and mildly classical style dressings. The gothic stylings intersperse with modern, art-deco surroundings creating an otherworldly feeling. For example, if you exit the lifts on one of the higher floors, you’ll see a mezzanine-landing directly across the other side of the building with pool tables. It is a bizarrely wonderful scene and something that characterises the beautiful feel around the property. Another is the fact that most rooms and the fifteen suites have abnormally high ceilings for London which gives it a grandly-commodious feel.
To add to the spectacular surroundings above ground, there is also a basement gym and a Grecian-style temple, perhaps Andaz London’s best kept secret. With Christmas hanging in the air, the latter is one of London’s most unique event spaces, the original Masonic Temple dating back to 1912, which shines in all its magnificence of marble, zodiac gold ceiling, and original masonic thrones. To add to all that, the basement also houses an Egyptian-style area as if in an enigmatic quest to cram in as many subterranean ancient spaces as possible.
I love quite too many hotels in London but when I use the word favourite, I am referring to the top 10 and the Hyatt Andaz Liverpool Street effortlessly muscles-in into that list. It’s got a special character, finesse, charm and a bewitching beauty. A strange coincidence is thar Dracula, definitely the most iconic novel and literary character, has a connection to this unique property. The Great Eastern was where vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing stayed during his first visit to London in Bram Stoker’s classic. Those high-ceilinged rooms and spaces will speak to you and haunt you forever in a very special, pleasant way.
ANDAZ LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET, 40 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7QN, United Kingdom
https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/en-US/longe-andaz-london-liverpool-street
Information Box
All rooms feature a Nespresso coffee maker, complimentary minibar, Wi-Fi, a 55” smart TV with mirroring capabilities and Chromecast, Yukata robes, and bathroom amenities by Swedish fragrance brand Byredo.
Meetings, Conferences, Celebrations and Events at Andaz London Liverpool Street
Andaz London Liverpool Street offers 15 distinctly unique and diverse private dining and event spaces for a range of event types, from a small board meeting or private dinner to a large conference for up to 250 guests. The hotel boasts a selection of eclectic dedicated event spaces. Highlights include:
1901 Ballroom (180 guests): A Grade II-listed ballroom with an original, stained-glass dome that survived two world wars
Masonic Temple (60 guests): An original Masonic Temple dating back to 1912 featuring marble and original Masonic chairs bringing the history of the room to life. Ideal for photoshoots, location filming, debates, presentations, and themed events
More Andaz London rooms include Great Eastern (300 guests), Bishopsgate & Chancery (100 guests), Fenchurch (100 guests), Andaz Studio (80 guests), Minories (50 guests), Small Suites (24 guests), and Exchange (14 guests). An experienced events team will take care of all the details and ensure everything runs smoothly.
