I get this comment a lot – and am not dismissive of it. And whilst there are plenty of days/weeks/months where I need to be bum on office chair reading sometimes it takes me to some very unexpected avenues - all in the name of research.
The other week, for instance, I took a tour of a luxury spa in a 5* hotel. An opportunity kindly given because I had been interviewed by the Financial Times about the history of wellness and spas when it opened a few months ago. You can read that piece here
It was really fascinating to have a look around the Guerlain Spa which offers swimming pool, fitness centre, nine private treatment rooms and L’Atelier Guerlain which offers treatments and the opportunity to smell of the Guerlain’s fragrances.
Then because the spa was in a historic building I also then stayed behind and had a look round there because there is nothing I love more than the repurposing of old buildings. This was, since 1906, the War Office building in Whitehall and since1964 (when the War Office was abolished) the Old War Office building.
Sold by the Ministry of Defence in 2016 it was converted into a luxury hotel and residential apartments over the next seven years. The hotel, Raffles London at the OWO, opened on 29 September 2023.
It was fascinating to learn about the construction work involved in transforming this space which included digging down six levels of basement to create the spa as well as the wonderful interiors of the hotel space.
Then, because the hotel is Raffles I just *had* to go to one of their bars, in this case Guards, and check out their cocktails. Again, this is a sumptuous space and was absolutely in my comfort zone sitting on a comfy seat at the bar and chatting to the bartenders.
I regret not having an iconic Singapore Sling and instead had Global which was delicious but a bit spendy, despite free nibbles and a small glass of complimentary champagne for the road, so I moved on.
And where better than the recreation of the historic Colony Room Club? This was quite the experience. It is in the basement of the restaurant and bar Ziggy Green, Heddon Street, so instead of going right into the restaurants its down the stairs and then through a very unimposing door with only a picture of a no mobile phone sign and a small sign to indicate where you are going.
But once you are in. Wow. It is like going back in time. The details are perfect in every way and it is such a faithful recreation – it gives you shivers. The original Colony opened in 1948 in Dean Street (where it was recognised as "the less rowdy, smaller, more homosexually tolerant version of its neighbour, The Gargoyle Club") and closed in 2008. It was founded by the legendary Muriel Belcher and was frequented by artists like Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Nina Hammett. There are original artefacts, original and recreated artworks and all sorts of goodies to look at.
Not only is it like living history the prices in the bar are historical too – they are currently 2008 prices. So it is £10 for a glass of champagne and I had a couple to check that it wasn’t a one off!
I sat at the bar chatted to everyone and had a lovely time – so many people that walked in where members of the original and the stories were a great bit of context to the place.
And after that I spent the night in the historic Strand Palace Hotel. This is such an important place to me as have done a lot of research into its varied histories from its beginnings as part of the J Lyons empire, to its 1930s Art Deco transformation by designer Oliver Percy Bernard (whose son Jeffrey was a regular at the Colony), the place that scientist Leo Szilard spent the summer thinking about the concept of chain reactions and then the tragic destruction of its interiors and magnificent entrance way in 1968.
I stayed in this hotel back in the early 2000s and was so sad how it had fallen so was absolutely delighted by its latest incarnation – it has been transformed into a wonderful place with an art deco style bar, comfy bedrooms and even a gin palace. I did intend to go to it but after a few glasses of Colony champagne and a cocktail before that I thought better go just go to sleep.
So that was a day in the life of a historian who specialises in health, beauty and leisure. Oh and who loves their job!