Raffles to transform Old War Office into hotel

Raffles London at The OWO is set to open its doors at the Old War Office building in Whitehall. The new hotel has been developed in partnership between the Hinduja Group and Accor and is the first location in the UK. The property features 120 guest rooms and suites, signature dining experiences by chef Mauro Colagreco, entertainment spaces including a grand ballroom, and an extensive spa in partnership with Guerlain and Pillar. The OWO also features 85 Residences by Raffles and also includes nine restaurants and three bars, including a rooftop with “panoramic” views across St James’s Park, The Mall and onto Buckingham Palace. Over the past eight years, Britain’s Old War Office has been restored by the family-run Hinduja Group. With the help of hundreds of artisans, historic interior elements have been restored, including delicate hand-laid mosaic floors, oak panelling, chandeliers, and a marble staircase. Raffles said that the most historically significant areas of the building are the Heritage Suites, former offices of political and military leaders including Winston Churchill, David Lloyd George and Sir Richard Haldane. A number of these will be available for exclusive reservations as ‘The Whitehall Wing’. This six-bedroom suite will occupy the west wing of the building and can accommodate up to twelve guests. Raffles London has also partnered with chef Mauro Colagreco, the chef behind Mirazur on the Côte d'Azur, to create three “unique” dining experiences. There will be a particular focus on the rich diversity of native British vegetables, which will be the focus of the dishes here. Next door is Mauro’s Table, an intimate space centred around a dining table and backed by a “dramatic” show kitchen. It will offer private dining for up to 23 guests and showcase local, hyper-seasonal ingredients. Meanwhile, Colagreco’s dining restaurant, Saison, will serve Mediterranean cuisine throughout the day including breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. This room occupies a former historic library of the Old War Office. Additionally, Raffles London will be home to two bars, The Guard’s Bar and Lounge and The Spy Bar. Further outlets at the hotel include The Drawing Room, an all-day dining lounge overlooking Horse Guards, and Pillar Kitchen. The Guerlain Spa at Raffles London is set to be one of the largest luxury hotel spas in the capital, spanning 2,500 sq metres over four floors, with a 20m swimming pool, nine treatment suites, a gym and L’Atelier Guerlain. With access via the Grand Staircase, the Whitehall Ballroom offers capacity for up to 600 guests, complemented by an extensive pre-function space and dedicated meeting rooms, named Morse and Code. In addition to restaurants by Colagreco at Raffles London, The OWO will feature an additional four independent restaurants including Café Lapérouse, Paper Moon, Langosteria, and a rooftop restaurant and ground-floor sake bar led by Michelin-starred Chef Patron Endo Kazutoshi. Omer Acar, CEO of Raffles and Orient Express, Accor, said: “Raffles seeks out astonishing settings for each of its properties, and Raffles London at The OWO offers this generously. The rich heritage of the city, as well as the Old War Office building, make London a natural home for the Raffles brand, which has long been synonymous with legendary service, glamour, art, and storied destinations.” Philippe Leboeuf, managing director of Raffles London at The OWO, added: “At Raffles London, the history of the former Old War Office lives on, through its splendid architecture, carefully chosen interior design and expansive Heritage Suites. We are excited to provide guests with the highly personalised and intuitive service for which Raffles is known the world over. Visitors will be spoiled for choice with the eclectic array of world-class restaurants and bars in an unrivalled location.”