London's Arts Club to open hotel

The Arts Club, the private members club in Mayfair popular with celebrities in the world of art, literature and the theatre, is to open a 16-bedroom hotel later this year.

Located in a Georgian building on Dover Street, the hotel will be situated in former office space on three floors above the club. Guests will be able to enjoy the club's facilities which include three restaurants, a nightclub and garden.

The bedroom suites will be a variety of sizes, with the largest measuring 100 sq m. They will have furnishings - such as mirrored ceilings and stretched fabrics on walls - from a number of European designers including Jacques Adnet, Gio Ponti, Firn Juhl, Piero Fornasetti and Hans Wegner.

The overall design of the hotel is being undertaken by Sagrada of London.

Speaking on behalf of the club, Alice Chadwyck-Healey said: "Many of the Arts Club members have asked us to expand our offering so we expect plenty of demand to stay.

"We believe that the new hotel will attract a very international guest, who wishes to relax in a high-quality glamorous and discreet suite in central London."

Founded in 1863, with Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope as original members, the Arts Club today boasts Sir Peter Blake and Gwyneth Paltrow amongst its current members.