In pictures: The Dorchester’s new look

For the first time in a year, the famous revolving doors have reopened, as the first phase of the property’s head-to-toe renovation completes. Starting with the façade which has been a prominent landmark of London for over nine decades, new lighting rejuvenates the new exterior, creating a welcoming glow across Park Lane. Guests arrive onto an enhanced forecourt, featuring a beautiful green granite underfoot and a landscaped, verdant garden area located underneath the renowned plane tree. The arrival experience extends into an open lobby, flooded with natural light and bookended by two imposing artworks.

The first phase of the property’s head-to-toe renovation includes the entire forecourt, entrance, lobby, The Promenade and Artists’ Bar designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, while the legendary and glamorous James Bond-inspired Vesper Bar (formerly The Bar at The Dorchester) has been transformed by Martin Brudnizki. Rooms and suites are slated to debut this March.

Image credit: The Dorchester

The Vesper Bar, named for the hotel’s many connections with 007 throughout the years, is where guests encounter a space with movie star looks and a supporting cast of talented bartenders ready to curate evenings of mature fun. Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the bar’s new interior is inspired by the spirit and elegance of the roaring 30’s, a time when manners were still important and yet mayhem was celebrated. Ornate design runs throughout the bar, including a 1930s Palladium leaf ceiling paired with a series of Cecil Beaton original drawings and celebrity photographs married with Rosie Emmerson pieces.

Image credit: The Dorchester

The Promenade remains the heart and soul of the hotel and captures the imagination as you move beyond the lobby and into the setting for vibrant dining experiences. An original collection of contemporary artworks by British artists are on display throughout The Promenade. The uniquely individual pieces all offer a new take on nature and have been created to evoke the sensation of strolling through a perfectly curated and cultivated British landscape.

The interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon encompass the hotel’s charming eccentricities whilst bringing a fresh elixir of colours inspired by the British landscape. Flanked by striking pillars along the depth of the space, delicate white and soft sage green ceilings are finished with gold leaf accents. The furnishings complete the drama of the space with cornered blue sofas and flavescent yellow and deep pink chairs sitting neatly around dark oak wood tables. And of course, no part of The Dorchester would be complete without a signature statement carpet to anchor the vibrant interiors.

Image credit: The Dorchester

As part of the first phase of this comprehensive transformation the hotel has unveiled its new Artists’ Bar. A new destination for Londoners in the heart of Mayfair, Artists’ Bar will be a glamorous and sparkling area for fun evenings of champagne, seafood and entertainment. The interior shines at every angle from the bar’s own Lalique crystal designs and Liberace’s legendary mirrored piano, which has been meticulously restored to take pride of place. Cocktails, served tableside on bespoke trolleys to create a touch of theatre, will reflect the carefully curated collection of artwork that adorns the walls.

Image credit: The Dorchester

An original collection of artworks by artists working in Britain will be proudly displayed throughout Artists’ Bar. The pieces, uniquely individual and crossing a range of media and techniques, are a celebration of London, mixing nature with urban landscapes, whilst portraying The Dorchester’s impact on the city and the famous figures associated with the hotel. Six signature cocktails presented at Artists’ Bar take inspiration from the spectacular artwork with ingredients mirroring the references and influences that each artist used to create their work.

Highlights of the collection include Ann Carrington’s work inspired by the Queen Elizabeth II postage stamp, creating a large scale silhouette of the late Queen using only mother of pearl buttons, painstakingly individually sewn by hand. At the opposite end of the bar, Ewan Eason has created an aerial view city map of the Hyde Park area of London, rendered entirely in gold leaf, with The Dorchester at its centre.

Image credit: The Dorchester

Located towards the end of The Promenade, the design and details of Artists’ Bar have been imagined by Pierre-Yves Rochon. From the moment guests arrive they will be captivated by the dramatic mirrored ceiling, flanked by striking pillars along the length of the destination bar. The design encompasses The Dorchester’s charming eccentricities, with pastel blue seating dotted along the bar, circling a grand crystal chandelier and again, anchored by the patterned carpets that swirl under foot.

Main image credit: The Dorchester / Mark Read