Running a rule over Britannia

150 150 Daniel Fountain
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Britannia is the new flagship of the P&O fleet with the distinctive red, white and blue of the Union Flag on her bow. Christened by HM Queen Elizabeth II in March 2015, the £473 million 141,000 tonne, 1,837 cabin ship is the largest ever purpose-built for the British market and is the largest vessel in the P&O fleet. With the ability to carry up to 3,647 passengers in considerable luxury at a cruising speed of 22 knots, the ship has an extremely ‘British vibe’, due to the input of Directory design company, Richmond International who coordinated the interior design. Our visit was made just prior to her maiden cruise around the Mediterranean.The First Impression
We started our tour in the Atrium – the centre of the ship – on Deck 3. The circular Atrium goes up three decks and is dominated by the impressive ‘Starburst’. Here the Starburst, an eight metre high sculpture made of 280 polished aluminium shards, reflects the light from its 320 coloured LEDs around the whole area to provide a special sparkle. There was ample comfortable seating including intimate areas for groups of friends if required. The Market Café delicatessen and the Blue bar (piano bar) could be pleasant areas to meet, eat and drink with friends during the cruise. Also here, a little more hidden away, was the ship’s reception area.

Décor in public areas included marble, chrome, glass, leather and wood grain finish with understated shades of nautical blue and cream along with soft grey, highlighted in gold and silver. All was very reminiscent of a boutique hotel lobby.

Restaurants
The Britannia has 13 restaurants and cafes, some of which are included in the price and some which require an additional charge. In the main restaurants (Meridian, Peninsular and Oriental) the five to six course menus include classic dishes and Marco Pierre White specials on gala nights. P&O has also retained its popular and flexible Freedom dining option, which provides for guests to turn up and dine informally. The alternative is of course Club Dining, which means traditional, fixed­time seating at 6:30 pm or 8:30 pm. Other inclusive dining options include the Lido Grill (steaks, burgers or classic fish and chips), The Pizzeria (fresh pizza all day), Grab & Go (near the main pools – a new concept allowing guests to choose a selection of pre­packed snacks, sandwiches or salads to eat informally). Last but not least of the inclusive options is Horizon, the main buffet restaurant that provides meals and snacks 24/7. Horizon has some new options on Britannia including a live cooking station for pancakes, omelettes and noodles, a coffee bar and a superb salad counter.

Other dining options
Fee paying dining is also available based around a range of speciality restaurants and ‘cafes’ from celebrity chefs and culinary experts. These include the Market Café, where master baker Eric Lanlard and renowned cheese expert Charlie Turnbull have chosen a selection of French patisserie, fine cheese, antipasto, charcuterie, tapas and artisan bread; Java, a Coffee shop selling Costa Coffee and overlooking the Atrium; Sindhu, an Asian style restaurant from Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar; the Glass House, a wine and tapas bar by Wine guru Olly Smith, which includes a tasting room, a dining room and a bar area, all of which use decorative glass in different ways. Finally, The Epicurean is a fine dining restaurant which uses molecular gastronomy with precision temperature cooking to provide contemporary dishes and also provides the backdrop for Eric Lanlard’s special afternoon teas.

Daniel Fountain / 30.03.2015

Editor, Hotel Designs

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Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.