Jaques Garcia hotel set for May opening in London

L’Oscar is being created within the 110-year-old building, which was derelict for several years before being subject to the no-expense-spared renovation.

Garcia is known for designing several luxury hotels, such as the much-copied Hotel Costes in Paris, La Mamounia in Marrakech, Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris and several houses for the Sultan of Brunei.

Inside the hotel, 39 rooms have been crafted out behind the façade of a Grade II listed building on Southampton Row in Holborn. The original octagonal 1903 chapel, complete with glass-topped dome, will now be L’Oscar’s main restaurant, The Baptist Grill.

Run by executive chef Tony Fleming, the 44-seat restaurant will offer a classic British menu with European influences. Fleming’s past CV includes working at the Oxo Tower, Criterion and Angler, the restaurant at South Place Hotel for which he earned a Michelin star.

The hotel also features Cafe Oscar, a Baroque-style continental cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and Blue Tree Yard, a “small and secret garden”.

Meetings and event space at the hotel includes The Library, with its original oak panelled shelves, and The Committee Room, which includes an original terracotta carving of a scene from John Bunyon’s The Pilgrims Progress.

Uniquely sourced items for the hotel include 65 vintage handbags for waiting staff, 150 individual napkin rings for the Baptist Grill from Sudbury antiques market and 30 Baptist Church collection trays refurbished to become bill presenters in the restaurants.

Working with exclusive perfumier Roja Dove, 3,500 bottles of signature scent have also been made for the hotel.

Rates at the hotel will start from £390 per night.