Meliá White House completes £40m refurb

Meliá Hotels International has completed the “extensive” £40m transformation of its flagship UK hotel, Meliá White House.

The four-star deluxe hotel, which is housed in an “iconic” 1930s Grade II listed building and sits alongside Regent’s Park, has upscaled its 581 bedrooms and suites, restaurant, bar, meeting spaces, lobby and members-style The Level service and lounge.

The architecture and interior project team, ASAH led the renovation, and “reimagined the stately space to create a more modern and luxurious version of itself”, whilst retaining the building’s original 1930s Art Deco architectural style.

An important part of the renovations was the repositioning of the restaurant and bar, which are both now accessible directly from the lobby as guests enter the hotel. In addition, each space has been “designed to be part of one another”, with no doors or barriers in the public spaces. 

White marble flooring spans the entrance and ground floor to spread light throughout the grand space, contrasted with walnut wood fixtures. Delicate fabrics used in the bar are all Rubelli velvets, chosen in a wine-red colour. The lighting and furniture have been sourced from world-renowned design teams.

Arado Restaurant, the in-house restaurant with a Mediterranean inspired menu, is led by F&B director Alberto Jonte, who’s worked for Meliá for more than five years and previously served as executive chef at ME Ibiza. Elsewhere, the site’s ’35 Bar & Lounge is an 80-seat, modern bar and lounge that sits at the heart of the hotel and serves an extensive drinks menu, alongside a bar menu.

Meliá White House also offers premium service, The Level, which provides customers with a premium suite with “personalised attention” and access to The Level lounge, offering complimentary drinks, snacks and tapas. The Level lounge was also part of the site’s transformation, bringing a “bright and modern” curated feel to the 80-seat premium space.

However, Meliá Hotels said the hotel’s biggest transformation can be seen across the 581 bedrooms, including deluxe double and premium rooms and The Level premium rooms, family rooms and suites. 

In addition to these rooms, Meliá White House also features 111 long-stay apartments, a 24-hour fitness studio and nine meeting and events spaces.

Garry Fortune, UK director of Operations, Meliá Hotels International, said: “We are delighted to be able to finally reveal this five-year transformation, which has seen Meliá Hotels International invest £40m into our flagship UK hotel. Meliá White House is a London landmark, a distinguished 1930s building, that’s been given a new lease of life for these modern times.

“We’ve created a truly stunning hotel, restoring the art deco style, and bringing our main social and dining spaces to the front of the hotel. And our first-class service lounge, The Level now has an encapsulating Mediterranean-feel; Meliá White House is a true destination hotel.”

Meliá White House remained open to guests throughout its renovation period, which lasted five years.