Rocco Forte Hotels has announced updates on renovations and new projects in a number of its properties, including The Balmoral in Edinburgh, Brown’s Hotel in London and Hotel Savoy in Florence.
The Balmoral
The Balmoral has unveiled a complete redesign of the Scone & Crombie Suite. Named after the Scone Palace in Perthshire, the suite’s design was led by Olga Polizzi, director of design for Rocco Forte Hotels, and it has hosted notable figures including members of royal households or heads of state as well as Hollywood stars like Sophia Loren and Elizabeth Taylor.
The suite has grand fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows framing views of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It can be booked as a two or three-bedroom suite, with an entrance hall ideal for private check-in. Polizzi designed the suite with the goal to provide a nod to both the city’s royal connections and the grandeur of the suite.
One of the highlights of the suite is the custom-made tapestry style “Devonshire Swans” wallpaper, which adorns the walls of the entrance-dining room and has been printed for the first time on canvas paper by British fabric house Watts of Westminster to resemble a traditional tapestry. The suite showcases hues of blues and greens throughout, reminiscent of the Scottish countryside, coupled with stripes and florals to evoke a Scottish feel. The sitting room will have a working fireplace, luxury furnishings, and rich fabrics. The master bedroom has also been completely redesigned with a combination of antique and heritage pieces with pops of color and bold prints.
Brown’s Hotel
This London hotel is launching a new restaurant, Beck at Brown’s, as well as the new Donovan Bar.
The Launch of Beck at Brown’s
Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck will be returning to London with a new restaurant, Beck at Brown’s, launching on April 16 at Brown’s Hotel. Redesigned by Polizzi, the eatery will offer a brand-new casual dining menu of classic Italian dishes, reinvented using seasonal British ingredients, uniting Heinz’s style with the hotel’s British heritage.
With a focus on a light, healthy menu with fresh produce – with Norfolk chicken and lamb from the organic Rhug estate – each dish is crafted by Heinz to create an authentic Italian menu. Beck at Brown’s brings dishes from throughout Italy, showcasing the diversity in cooking techniques throughout the country, from meat and fish dishes found in the mountainous north to the fresh, citrusy flavors in the south.
The Launch of the Donovan Bar
After a complete re-design by Polizzi and Inge Moore, the Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel will officially open on April 9 with an exclusive drinks menu created by Salvatore Calabrese. Taking inspiration from the bar’s namesake and friend of the Forte family, the 1960’s photographer Sir Terrence Donovan, Salvatore has created a list of 16 signature cocktails inspired by Donovan’s photography career. The largest private collection of his work decorates the walls of the space and complements the hotel’s English architecture. One of the standout parts of the re-design is the "Naughty Corner," a semi-private area for up to 12 people where guests can sit among some of the raciest photos in the photographer’s portfolio.
Hotel Savoy
After undergoing an extensive renovation since closing its doors in Fall 2017, Hotel Savoy in Florence will be reopening with a new design in time for the city’s summer season. Located in the heart of Florence on Piazza della Repubblica, the renovation was led by Polizzi. Her interior design reflects the city’s culture, with nods to the Florentine tradition of fine fashion and leather craftsmanship.
The hotel’s lobby has been reinstated to its original look, with a 16-foot high corniced ceiling and reception desks adorned with caryatid putti to represent the four seasons and the Fleur de Lis emblem of the city. The fluid, white space is complemented with colorful art and design elements – including paintings by Italian artist Luca Pignatelli – as well as two locally-sourced classical stone figures and a 17th-century marble table with gold detailing.
The number of guestrooms and suites have also been reduced from 102 to 80 and the hotel will be unveiling a new Duomo Presidential Suite, which will occupy its own wing with uninterrupted Duomo views, as well as new two-story suite with panoramic views of the Florentine rooftops. Local artisans were commissioned to create special pieces for the rooms, including exclusively designed Il Bronzetto tables, chairs and mirrors and works from Chelini Firenze’s workshop, combined with C&C Milano fabrics.
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