The Crowne Plaza London-Battersea has had an interesting start to life. The hotel was built in 2010 and was originally part of the Von Essen group before the company was put into administration back in 2012. It was then bought by the Rhombus group and turned into Hotel Verta by Rhombus – London until the end of 2014. Fabiano Hotels LTD has recently bought the property with management from IHG. Now under the Crowne Plaza brand, IHG mean business – and they’re bringing it south of the river.With only a ten-minute walk from Clapham Junction train station and the close proximity of the Heliport to the hotel, accessing London is just a short ride away. It’s also just across the river from Chelsea Harbour, home to the showrooms of many of the companies we feature within our Directory of suppliers.
Finding the hotel can be tricky as Google maps wasn’t, at the time of visit, recognising the hotel name as it’s still listed as Hotel Verta. It’s also not particularly identifiable (as the hotel) from the main road (no visible exterior signage) and is located behind two car showrooms so if you’re travelling from Clapham Junction train station, it’s advisable to jump in a taxi for the short journey. However, once you reach the hotel, the views over the Thames are just spectacular and the theatrical element of watching helicopters taking to the skies from the port next door turns it into a hidden gem.
Walking into Reception there is a long reception desk to the left, lift lobby ahead and a staircase to the Verta bar on the mezzanine level on the right. Beyond the staircase is a small seating area and bar with the restaurant. The open-plan layout enables light to fill the space and creates the feeling of more space. The building is lined with floor to ceiling windows which again enables guests and visitors to view the helicopters and take in the views across the Thames.
A large bronze map of the local area hangs behind the reception desk as functional artwork with gold, yellow and dark wood finishes creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The interior has not been altered since the hotel opened in 2010 and the general design throughout the hotel has an Asian style to it which is more noticeable in the restaurant area.
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