K West Hotel & Spa – hitting the high notes

K West Hotel & Spa in West London is synonymous with music. Formerly the BBC Recording Studio Kensington House in the 70s and 80s, an endless list of Rock ‘N’ Roll royalty has stayed, played and misbehaved at K West. From Bob Marley and the Wailers, to David Bowie, The Kinks and Roxy Music to name a few! Since becoming a hotel, the venue has continued to strike a chord with musicians, who often stay whilst playing at nearby music venues like O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the Apollo. This has led to a fun and vibrant ambience fused with ultimate relaxation in a prime location.

Situated in one of London’s most up-and-coming districts, Shepherd’s Bush (or Shay’Bu as some localites now refer to it), the urban retreat is on the doorstep of Westfield shopping centre, one of the largest retail destinations in Europe with over 450 shops. Fashionable areas such as Notting Hill, Portobello Road and Kensington are also closeby.

A defining characteristic of all 219 guestrooms is the generous space, with the smallest being just under 300 sq ft. The rooms are designed to offer a soothing respite from the fast pace of London life, with luxurious oversized beds and a calming colour scheme. Modern flourishes including LCD flat screen TVs, sandblasted glass, and original artwork give the rooms a distinctive K West stamp.

At the upper end of the scale, the six spectacular K Suites offer the ultimate experience. Dramatic walls of glass divide the bedrooms from the lounge areas, which are fitted with Bose surround sound entertainment systems, a 42” plasma screen television and ultra-comfy sofas. Two-metre square beds and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries are also staples in the suites, and the bathrooms have been fitted with designer Philippe Starck double-ended baths and fixtures.

On the ground floor by the entrance, Studio Bar has music-infused atmosphere (another nod to its roots). Industrial style pendant lamps hang low over raised tables, and textured silver wallpaper by Dixon & Turner gives the bar a modern edge. The polished dark walnut-wood flooring brings warmth to the area, which is opened up with the use of floor-to-ceiling mirrored pillars and relaxed seating arrangements. Chic black and white artwork depicting musicians hangs above each booth, with punchy contrasting accents of colour adding vibrancy. Every Friday and Saturday, top DJs play from 10pm until 2am, while the hotel’s expert mixologists create exotic cocktails for a distinctly cool crowd.

By day, Studio Bar is a light and airy space for creative media meetings over coffees and laptops. A ‘Geek Hub’ laptop bar with complimentary iMacs for guests to use can be found tucked into a snug area around the corner from the bar.

On the mezzanine floor above the Bar, Studio Kitchen is an informal eatery with an urban New York vibe. This is continued in the menu which offers a range of US style ‘dude food’, as well as a selection of modern European dishes. Edgy city landscape sketches stretch along the walls, mirrored by a quirky wave of banquet seating hugging the back of the room. Sprinklings of filament light bulbs suspended on individual wires add an abstract, arty feel to the room.

One of the biggest draws is K West’s spa, awarded ‘Best Spa in London’ at the Good Spa Guide Awards 2015 and winner of a World Luxury Spa Award. K Spa introduced the first ‘Snow Paradise’ to London, which mimics the Finnish experience of alternating between freezing and steamy environments; the frosty cabin reaches temperatures of -15 degrees celsius! The spa also features a twinkling hydrotherapy pool, sanarium, sauna, dry flotation tank, aromatic herbal steam room and the fully equipped K Fit gymnasium.

Whether you’re in town visiting London, in need of some pampering or somewhere chic for a work meeting, K West Hotel & Spa is an attraction well worth the consideration.

For more information, visit www.k-west.co.uk