Andy Thornton at the London Marriott Hotel, County Hall

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

Centrally located on London’s vibrant South Bank, the luxury 5 star London Marriott Hotel, County Hall has breathtaking views of many of London’s famous sights, including Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Palace of Westminster. The view is the envy of many London hotels and now that Gillray’s Steakhouse & Bar has opened (April 2012), the hotel can boast a bar and restaurant to rival the very best in the capital. Here you can enjoy the very best English steak in a traditional English building, surrounded by unique English furnishings and art.

Working closely with head designer Angie Newby-Stubbs of Blacksheep, interior contractor and furniture supplier Andy Thornton successfully delivered the decorative interior package. The company worked to concept drawings and a detailed brief from the designers, arranging inspections at the Andy Thornton workshops and providing samples for approval at every stage of the manufacturing process.

Centrepiece in the main bar area is an elegant cocktail bar, supplied by Andy Thornton, which features an illuminated bar counter in specially sourced ‘book-matched’ granite with a zinc bar top. The back fitting comprises of an ornate solid brass drinks gantry with open glazed shelving and four antique mirrors to effectively display the impressive selection of spirits. Underneath are specially manufactured stainless steel clad base units and stainless steel worktop.

Directly in front of the bar is a circular seating area, defined by four bespoke high wing-back curved deep button-backed sofas set around a circular patterned carpet. These have been upholstered in mustard leather to complement the carpet. Andy Thornton also supplied lounge chairs, tubs and coffee tables all manufactured specially to Blacksheep specifications.
To the sides of the foyer entrance, Andy Thornton installed brass-framed cloak cupboards with silvered mirrored doors and a brass clad wine display feature. There is also a free standing greeter station by the riverside entrance and a curved reception counter close to the restaurant.

In the restaurant the focal point is the Cheese & Chutney servery, which incorporates a mirrored counter and bespoke granite worktop and a display gantry in brass with decorative spinnings. Around the restaurant Andy Thornton also supplied three free-standing waiter stations in veneered oak with granite tops and mirrored splash backs.

Sumptuous leather Chesterfields fill the restaurant and bar, including one at nine metres in length, specially made with a slight radius to fit against the curved back wall. These are matched with a mix of bespoke side chairs, again manufactured to Blacksheep designs and upholstered in premium colour-dyed leathers with contrasting piping to give a contemporary feel. Cast iron table bases are matched with a mix of marble, oak and zinc clad tops. One feature table is 2.2 metres in diameter, accommodating ten private diners.

Angie Newby-Stubbs of Blacksheep commented: “From the inception of this project Andy Thornton have delivered on every level, from initial design discussions on the bespoke furniture to site delivery. All members of the team are professional and a delight to work with. Working in such close partnership has meant that this project was delivered to the highest standards expected not only of Blacksheep but also the client, Marriott International.”

Daniel Fountain / 13.05.2012

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

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.