Aside from blowing raspberries all over our travel plans, the
pandemic also put pins in The Harper’s opening. Previously billed
as one of the UK’s hot hotel openings in 2020, it decided to hang
back in order to open with a bang. Arriving in the pretty village
of Langham – just a mile down the road from Norfolk’s
beauty-pageant queen Blakeney – its 32 bedrooms and spa (with all
the trimmings: jacuzzi, sauna, light-filled indoor pool) have
transformed the brick-and-flint barns that once housed a successful
glass-blowing business. You’ll find nods to its industrial past in
the exposed brick, original oak-beams and blazing fire pits serving
up places from their outdoor grill. We expect that the London
escapees commonly found brooding on Norfolk’s beaches will be first
in line.

Opening early 2021

From the guys that brought us Wales’ cult glamping sites, this
is Fforest’s first foray into a solely brick-and-mortar bolthole.
Spread over two warehouses, the 23 bedrooms – all overlooking the
River Teifi – draws influence from the town’s rich naval history.
Historic features will be retained throughout joined by sketches of
tall ships that cover limestone walls. The Albion is pitching up in
the middle of Fforest’s existing campsites, you’ll find one on a
200-acre farm and a smaller, more intimate site teetering behind
Penbryn Beach – the ideal place to bed down on a multigenerational
family road trip.

Opening early 2021

Undoubtedly London’s most anticipated hotel opening since The
Ned and from some of the same guys – sans Soho House – behind it.
Adding to its outposts in LA, Las Vegas and New York, the Sydell
Group has taken over the old Bow Street Magistrates’ Court and
police station (custody cells will become bedrooms) in the centre
of Covent Garden. Some 1,600 works of art will be on show – the
theme of this NoMad will explore the cultural connection between
London and New York – while four restaurants and drinking dens
include a pub serving Mexican sharing plates, so you can tick off
that “substantial meal” rule with your booze. People familiar with
the NoMad in the US will recognise the interplay between grandeur
and whimsy with design details such as the huge glass atrium
dripping in foliage that’ll double up as a main restaurant, while
91 bedrooms mix mid-century pieces with flashy (but not tacky)
grandeur (read: golden bathtubs). The promise of late-night
conversations with mixologists in the sultry basement cocktail bar
are perhaps the only thing that’ll drag us back into the tourist
throngs of Covent Garden.

Opening early 2021

It’s no secret we’re big fans of everything The Newt does. From
its cider deliveries that kept us suitably merry through summer
picnics and the winter wine hampers that have helped us get sloshed
through the festive season, to getting the keys to our grand
Georgian-inspired suite overlooking the impressive Somerset estate
that still gives us chills, The Newt has thrown the stuffiness out
of the traditional country house and, well, made it cool again.
Branching out to include a more low-key offering in a secluded
corner of the estate, The Farmyard will offer 17 rooms in the
former cider mill and cheese barn. Of course, there will be a
garden-to-grub menu to showcase the ground’s incredible produce,
too. For those who didn’t manage to snag a room in 2020’s summer
staycation spot of choice, we suggest getting in early for this
one.

Opening summer 2021

There’s a townhouse trend trickling through the streets in the
UK; The Mayfair Townhouse recently flung open its doors; there’s
Henry’s Townhouse, the former home of Jane Austen’s favourite
brother, in Marleybone; Beaverbrook Townhouse ventures into Chelsea
and, national treasure Gleneagles will open a 33-bedroom townhouse
and members’ club overlooking St Andrews Square in Edinburgh for
its first city venture.

Opening autumn 2021

Coming for the crown of Cavos Tagoo, these sugar-cube suites (25
in total, with two villas) stagger down the cliff towards Ornos Bay
guaranteeing both sunrise and sunset views from each room – a
rarity usually reserved for superyachts found bobbing in the
Aegean. Supposedly modelled on a traditional Mykonos village –
arguably the most bougie we’ve ever seen – every room has its own
private pool (the only hotel in Mykonons to offer this), an al
fresco shower, terrace for entertaining and Sonos surround sound.
Forget Nammos, this is your newest post-Scorpios party pad.

Ibiza’s laid back little sister is upping her game next season. Famed for its pared-back beaches lined with snack-and-go chiringuito beach shacks, hippie market and islanders that have no idea who Wayne Lineker is (though have most certainly posed on Ocean Beach with him), Formentera has a selection of accommodation that’s usually limited to a few well-kept Airbnbs. Fourteen rooms sit on 7km of raw, undisturbed beach in keeping with the island’s fuss-free, organic charm. Think wood-carved sinks, whitewashed walls and rattan accents. Technically, Casa Formentera managed to squeeze in a few guests last season, but as it was as stop-start as our own holidays, we’re giving them a second shot in summer 2021 – we hope.

“Suspended above a crocodile-infested river on the edge of
Kruger National Park” sounds like the start to an Indian Jones film
or a predicament Eliza would face in an episode of The Wild
Thornberrys, but it’s actually the newest safari lodge to open in
South Africa. Paying homage to bygone explorers and occupying the
same spot that was responsible for delivering the first guests to
the park back in the 1920s, the stationary train-cum-hotel will
adopt a permanent position on the Selati Bridge above the Sabie
River. Cramped train carriages and crisp-filled drinks trolley this
is not – 31 glass-walled rooms, local artwork and freestanding tubs
overlooking the park characterise the interior while a swimming
pool overhangs from the platform. Have a dip while watching
crocodiles, hippos, buffaloes and elephants visiting the watering
hole below.

Opening early 2021

Everytime we try to recommend a not-too-far-for-New-Yorkers
countryside escape, the Catskills continues to draw our attention
with a new offering. Cementing the fact that it really is the new
Hamptons is the latest hotel opening by reality real estate broker
Steve Gold. Pivoting from selling plush pads to celebs, The Aurum
is set out to become a wellness hub with nods to ancient Roman spa
culture – expect huge stone hammans and lots of hot-spring-inspired
soaking tubs. Three accommodation types will spread out across the
131-acre forest laying at the foot of the Mount Tremper mountains.
Thirty-six rooms will live in the totally refurbished lodge first
built in 1902, with a further 20 rooms with private gardens and,
our personal favourite, 12 glass-fronted mountain bungalows with
s’more-melting firepits, showers and hot tubs. We expect the people
on Steve’s celebrity Rolodex will be big fans.

Opening autumn 2021

We’ve become a little bit more familiar with this end of the
Jubilee line since The Stratford Hotel (and it’s Zen roof gardens)
opened last year and we realised that there’s more to this
regenerated hub than Westfield. Launching in spring 2021, The
Gantry will be part food hall, part hotel and part late-night event
space. We can’t decide what we’re more excited about: another
destination to eat through or the opening of the highest rooftop in
east London.

Opening Spring 2021

The brains behind the beloved Aman group, Adrian Zecha, is
breaking away to launch his first hotel on the Japanese island of
Ikuchijima – often likened to Greece’s Ionian – in collaboration
with Japanese hospitality group Naru Developments. Set in a
revamped, 140-year old Japanese compound, Azumi Setoda will put a
modern spin on the traditional ryokan. As with all of Adrian’s
former Aman projects, we can expect this one to be the pinnacle of
luxury.

Opening 1 March 2021

Transforming stationary trains into places to bed down is the
unexpected hotel trend of 2021. Adding to the Chattanooga Choo Choo
resurrection that’s seen a distillery, boutique fitness studio and
a smattering of got-to-pre-book restaurants open inside a historic
terminal is Life House Chattanooga. Its collection of luxury
Pullman train carriages have been restored, refurbished and turned
into private suites – we’re getting Queen’s Gambit mixed with
Miuccia Bianchi Prada vibes. Elsewhere, the historical terminal has
ramped up its Beaux-Arts style and added a recording studio, cinema
and lobby so grand we’re likening it to Gatsby’s palatial East Egg
home.

Opening spring 2021

Pharrell Williams has been busy this year. Alongside his latest
Adidas sneaker drop and launching his first skincare line – that
we’re unashamedly planning to stockpile – he’s also adding “hotel
curator” to his resume. Talking about his partnership with
night-club mogul David Grutman, Williams (in a recent interview
with Vogue) likened the seven-floor, 266-room waterfront hotel to
“waking up in a Wes Anderson film”. With a recording studio,
third-floor deck and outdoor gym, the duo hope to add the
Williamsburg effect to the otherwise overlooked Washington Avenue.
One to watch.

Opening…in time for Art Basel’s return

In summer 2021, Chateau Denmark is making good on its intent to
shake up London’s identikit hotel scene of velvet sofas and lobbies
scented with artisan coffee. Instead, it’ll mix grit, glam and a
bit of faded rock ‘n’ roll. A who’s who of Top of the Pops once
pounded Denmark Street’s pavement: The Sex Pistols, The Rolling
Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and
Ziggy Stardust. Chateau Denmark builds on the area’s history of
creative expression and counter-culture with 55 “sleep it off”
rooms scattered across 16 characterful buildings in and around
Denmark Street. Expect psychedelic interiors, Vivienne
Westwood-inspired leathers and maxi-bars to ramp up the
mischief.

Opening summer 2021

The average, one-bedroom house in the UK is 46sq m – a fact
we’re reminded of every time we sneak past our housemate’s
living-room-turned-bed-room on our way to the bathroom. The
seriously sexy and sustainable Sussurro has six bunglaows that each
span 92sq m. Let that sink in a moment. Better yet, it’s powered by
renewable energy, is plastic-free and on the shores of Mozambique’s
most beautiful beach. Add to that the fact that these lodgings are
built using only locally sourced materials, showcase thoughtfully
collected artisan pieces from Africa and have private waterfront
verandas designed for practising morning yoga or meditation. The
best bit? The sunken bathtubs overlooking the grounds.

Opening January 2021

Nestled in the west of the island, we’re making tracks to this
new Ibizian bolthole as soon as summer lands. Designed to offer
guests an environment to relax and reenergize – seriously, OKU
translates to inner space – mattresses seemingly paint your
silhouette, morning yoga session encourage you to stretch out and
the ocean views will have you shaking off your WFH fatigue in
seconds. Pick between dreamy swim-up pool rooms, splash out on the
penthouse or snag the four-bedroom villa for a multi-gen
getaway.

Opening May 2021

By late-spring our favourite brand of urban hotels is set to
open its doors in Rome. Honouring typical Hoxton-fied decor, the
newbie is situated in the heart of the Parioli district, which
makes for leafy parks and local run delis as neighbours. Rooms (192
to be precise) will fuse Italian design with a contemporary pizzazz
– picture marble-clad walls, exposed beams and a smattering of
brass detailing. If you’re dreaming of catching some italian rays
as much as we are, you’ll be pretty glad to know some rooms come
with a private outdoor terrace. Snag a cocktail and soak the day
away, we won’t judge.

Opening late-spring 2021

Set to fling open its doors for the first time this summer,
Kisawa Sanctuary is a pioneering eco-resort that’s fusing
sustainability with high-tech design. You’ll find 22 bungalows
spread across some 300-hectares of palm-fringed coastal land, with
each bolthole coming armed with its own private beach, open
air-deck and infinity pool – seclusion is guaranteed. The world’s
first 3D-printed retreat, founder and philanthropist Nina Flhor is
paving the way for more thoughtful design. The hotel has been
constructed in harmony with the surrounding land, while over a 1000
local artisans have played a part in bringing the sanctuary alive.
Spot their mastery in the African art, textiles and intricately
woven thatched roofs.

Opening summer 2021