London's East End - It's not a hoax

If January was depressing, February took the biscuit.

I needed to get out of town, head up to the big smoke and breathe, escape from my comfort zone, live a little, so I booked myself into the swanky East London boutique hotel The Hoxton to blow the cobwebs away.

Just getting away was a tonic in itself. But throw in your best friend, a night away without the kids, dinner and a leisurely train journey there and back, and the icing on the escape plan was beginning to shape up nicely.

And as I pitched up to The Hoxton in Shoreditch on a Friday afternoon, complete with sexy bar, and the sleekest, grooviest clientele swamping its interior, it was an instant reminder that life does go on outside my sleepy Oxfordshire village, regardless of whether you stand still and let it pass you by or seize it with both hands. The Hoxton was just the tonic I needed.

Discreet from the outside, The Hoxton’s calm exterior belies the energy inside. In fact, on entering it resembles a Wallpaper magazine photo shoot, its bar and restaurant heaving with people chatting, laughing and living in the funky Hoxton Grill, a restaurant and bar. But stand to one side and you’ll notice a guest desk where you can check in, more DJ deck then reception. But once you’re checked in, the uber lift takes you up, up and away into the hotel and The Hoxton really comes into its own.

With views stretching out over London, and Shoreditch ours for the taking, accommodation-wise nothing had been left to chance. From the pencils to the toiletries, the textures and fabrics of the decorations to the beds and linens, it may be contemporary but luxury is also the name of the game here.

What does differ is the rigidity. You can sleep late and check out late. You can have breakfast in a bag delivered to your room if you can’t face the whole rigmarole of dressing for breakfast downstairs, although the continental breakfast might not appease the hungrier clientele.

But the city awaited us so we dressed and crept out to explore. Hitting several bars along the way, Shoreditch has a real village feel, and if it appears low-key don’t be fooled. Dressing down may be the norm, but this is where it’s all happening and I recognised several of the clubs I used to frequent in the days before the husband, kids and obligations I was currently escaping from. It was nice to be back.

We dined at Fifteen, Jamie Oliver’s original restaurant, because it was close and we’d never been. The courtyard was in disarray when we arrived, an enormous Jamie advert having just been filmed there, the remnants of his pots, pans, lighting, cables, vegetables, costumes, extras and props being slowly dismantled and wheeled away as we arrived. It meant there was a long wait for dinner, but the stage was set and we were happy to drink Bloody Marys while we waited for a table.

Having been to the Cornish Fifteen, the menu has changed from the ‘boards’ mentality to a more Moro/tapas type feel, bringing dishes out as and when they are ready, which only works well if all the dishes work as stand-alones. Here they didn’t. A plate of cabbage wilted and cooled while we waited for its accompanying dishes, and so the meal progressed.

But to be honest, being out was intoxicating enough, and after dinner we meandered slowly back to the Hoxton, knowing that if nothing else we could see in the rest of the night there.

And it didn’t disappoint. Diners and drinkers were still out in force, decorating the bar in a wonderful mix of styles and colour. But after standing around for a few rounds we suddenly became rather self-conscious. The more tired we got, the more the scales fell from our eyes, and we went from being adventurous escapees to two tired, middle-aged women who needed to go to bed.

But that’s the beauty of The Hoxton because within seconds you are whisked away to the peace, quiet and sanctity of your room, where the noise and bustle of downstairs become a distant memory and you fall into a deep and wonderful sleep in the comfortable beds.

The next morning it seemed just that, a distant memory. After our simple breakfast in a bag, we regretfully checked out, enviously eyeing the busy dining room full of breakfasters and brunchers as the whole party started to take off all over again. As soon as we stepped on to the street it was as if the magic had faded, the mute exterior once more masking the fun and frivolity of the Hoxton experience.

ESSENTIALS

The Hoxton
81 Great Eastern Street
London
EC2A 3HU
020 7550 1000
info@hoxtonhotels.com
hoxtonhotels.com

Set in Shoreditch, the Hoxton Hotel is close to Liverpool Street and Old Street Tube stations.
208 bedrooms
Twin/double Rooms from £49 to £299
Lite Breakfast is included in all rates