Latest openings: Ruby Lucy, Hey Palu and more

Ruby Lucy

Ruby Hotels, the Munich-based ‘lean luxury’ hotel brand, has launched its first UK property in London’s South Bank.

Ruby Lucy’s interior is inspired by the area’s fairs and markets and the entertainment and theatre scene. A carnival theme runs throughout, seen in the brass accents, striped decor and props, such as circus drums and juggling pins.

Rooms range in size from cosy ‘nest’ rooms (14-15sq m) to ‘loft’ rooms (21-23sq m), and feature Marshall guitar amps, which guests can use with their own guitar or borrow from reception. The hotel also has a 24-hour bar and its own internet radio station.

A communal space serves healthy, locally produced breakfasts, and there are also vending machines and ironing stations.

• Opened 29 January
• Bedrooms 75
• Starting room rate £119
• Website www.ruby-hotels.com

Hey Palu

Italy-inspired, 1930s-style bar Hey Palu has opened in Edinburgh, split into two spaces: a lively Campari bar and a more relaxed Martini space. Decorated with retro Italian decor, the drinks menu focuses on cocktails, while the food menu showcases aperitivo, with sharing platters and small bites, such as oregano and sea salt crisps and rosemary mixed olives.

• Owners Alex Palumbo, Rachel Bailey Palumbo, and Andrew Aytoun Keams
• Website www.heypalu.com

Cheval Gloucester Park

Cheval Collection’s property in west London has reopened following a two-year, multimillion-pound redevelopment. The luxury serviced apartment residence is available to book for any length of stay, with a combination of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as three five-bedroom penthouses on the upper floors. Rooms come with 24-hour concierge service and a welcome hamper.

• Apartments 98
• Website www.chevalcollection.com

The Henrietta bar

The Roseate Villa Bath has opened a new cocktail bar, the Henrietta bar, which also offers morning coffee and afternoon tea. Seasonally inspired cocktails have been designed by the hotel’s mixologist, Christiana Kiose, who joins the 21-bedroom hotel from sister property Roseate House London.

• Covers 28
• Typical drinks ‘Villa zest’: gin, grapefruit, lemon juices; ‘Henrietta spice’, pear, star anise, cinnamon
• Website www.roseatehotels.com

Moxy Birmingham NEC

The ninth UK hotel under Marriott International’s millennial brand Moxy has opened at the NEC in Birmingham. The interior pays homage to the neighbouring concert venue, with a sound wave ceiling installation and graffiti and guitars across the walls.

• Bedrooms 224
• Operator Belvar
• General manager Gary Masters
• Starting room rate £89
• Website moxy-hotels.marriott.com

Smokey Kudu

Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams, founders of Kudu in London’s Peckham, have opened cocktail bar Smokey Kudu nearby. Like its sister site, inspiration comes from chef-owner Williams’ native South Africa. The ‘spiced and aromatic’ cocktail list is inspired by the Cape of Good Hope, a historic stopover for spice traders.

• Covers 37
• Bar manager Jonas Stern
• Design A-nrd Studio
• Website www.kuducollective.com

**Townsend **

Townsend has opened at London’s Whitechapel Gallery, a dining room, café and wine bar from Nick Gilkinson (former restaurant manager of Anglo) and with a kitchen overseen by Joe Fox, previously head chef at Petersham Nurseries.

• Covers Main dining room: 32; private dining: 14
• Head chef Joe Fox
• Typical dishes Mayan gold potato, egg yolk, Berkswell, winter truffle; curried veal sweetbread, cauliflower, sprout tops, burnt onion
• Website www.whitechapelgallery.org/townsend