1508 London reimagines The Garden Room at The Lanesborough

Following the successful renovation of the award-winning Lanesborough Spa, 1508 London has been entrusted with reimagining The Garden Room – transforming it into a refined cigar and whisky lounge that enhances the hotel’s existing offering while respecting its historic character and neoclassical architecture.

The newly designed Garden Room will be conceived as an immersive cigar and whisky lounge – a richly layered, dark and atmospheric destination designed to elevate the guest experience. Intimate yet welcoming, the space offers hotel guests and visitors a sophisticated retreat that remains connected to its verdant setting and immediate proximity to Hyde Park.

Image credit: John Carey

The concept is centred around three core principles:

City Oasis: An urban retreat in the heart of London, blending interior and exterior elements to create a calm and immersive environment inspired by its setting beside Hyde Park.
Craftsmanship: A focus on integrity of material application and pride in execution, delivering a level of quality befitting a leading British institution.
Timeless: Drawing on The Lanesborough’s heritage to create a design that feels enduring rather than trend-led.

The experience begins at the threshold. Guests are welcomed through a bespoke timber and brushed brass portal, where carefully crafted joinery frames a curated display of the world’s finest cigars and rare whiskies. A Pierre Frey inset carpet defines the entrance, while Portland Limestone, Verde Antique and Nero Marquina stone flooring establishes an immediate sense of gravitas and permanence.

Image credit: John Carey

The journey unfolds into the whisky bar – a theatrical yet intimate space illuminated through layered lighting and crowned by brass and crystal chandeliers. Patagonia quartzite forms the bar countertop, its natural veining echoing the organic narrative of the room. Antique mirror panels, brass and laminate glass bespoke joinery, and rich timber wall panelling add depth and reflection. At its heart sits the humidor, supplied by DeArt, housing an exceptional cigar collection within an environment designed to celebrate craftsmanship and ritual.

Leading into the Garden Room, rich amber hues, gilded églomisé glass, decorated ceilings, plush leather armchairs by British designers, timber and glass tables, and a feature fireplace create an atmosphere that is uplifting by day and seductively moody by night – an elegant lounge reinterpreted for the modern connoisseur. Planting plays a defining role, softening the architecture and reinforcing the dialogue between inside and out. Integrated greenery enhances the connection to Hyde Park beyond, bringing a sense of the landscape into the heart of the hotel while honouring the spirit of the original Garden Room concept.

Image credit: John Carey

Commenting on the project, Hamish Brown, Partner at 1508 London, said: “Our partnership with The Lanesborough has always been rooted in a deep respect for the hotel’s heritage and its exacting standards of luxury. Having had the privilege to collaborate on the reinvention of the award-winning Spa – a project that defined our studio’s entrance into hospitality design – we are delighted to continue this journey with The Garden Room. This next chapter allows us to bring the same level of sophistication, refined detail and intuitive design that characterises The Lanesborough’s understated elegance, crafting a space that feels both beautifully timeless and perfectly of its moment.”

Reflecting on the design intent, Ayomide Ogundeyin, Designer at 1508 London, added: “When reimagining The Garden Room, our intention was to capture the hotel’s historic charm while reinforcing its timeless elegance. We enhanced the space with warm timber tones and thoughtfully layered materials, creating an atmosphere of refined comfort that invites guests to relax and feel immersed in the surrounding greenery.”

Main image credit: John Carey