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This boutique hotel with interiors on the right side of kitsch is creating a buzz, so be sure to book your visit soon
Words by Jonathan Whiley
With a prime spot on the banks of the River Thames overlooking Hampton Court, boutique hotel The Mitre has not gone unnoticed. The hotel has a rich history as a place to stay, stretching back as far as Charles II in 1666, but last year it was awarded âbest new London hotelâ by The Sunday Times. Expect a warm welcome in a Grade II-listed property and a crisp glass of Whispering Angel rose.
Opened last summer as part of The Signet Collection (set up by Hector Ross, formerly of Beaverbrook), the buzz is provided by locals as much as guests.
Nicola Hardingâs interiors are fabulously quirky but never kitsch; each of the 36 rooms are individually designed and named after historical figures (the Catherine Parr Suite features a hand-forged free-standing copper bath).
Staff are young but boast impressive credentials and bags of enthusiasm; hotel manager Claire Fyfe is a former MasterChef finalist and chef Ronnie Kimbugwe is ex-Claridgeâs. The food is stand-out in both The Coppernose restaurant and riverside brasserie, 1665, with little twists on traditional favourites; think full English breakfast with wild boar and apple sausages or avocado with sriracha, hummus and crispy shallots.
By day, take a tour of Hampton Court (complimentary tickets available) or a leisurely boat trip, before returning for a tankard of the hotelâs own draft ale, âThe Six Wivesâ or a glass of Scotch from the honesty bar in the snug library with a retro jukebox for company.