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On Safari
The Allison Pike Partnership has created a major
new themed hotel at one of the UK’s most
popular attractions.
he Cheshire based architectural located in the south wing of the hotel and are The leisure area is also served by an external
T
and interior design specialist The designed to a more conventional layout with the entrance for non-hotel guests.
Allison Pike Partnership has bathroom located against the corridor wall. Director of Hotel Development at Merlin
recently completed work on a new A further 30 executive rooms are situated on Entertainments Philip Baker said: “We are
£15m safari themed hotel at the the top floor where the interior design delighted with the new hotel, which is already
Chessington World of Adventures theme park complements the hotel style with timbered proving very popular with both family and
in Surrey. floors and enhanced finishes to the fittings business guests. Its design subtly
The four-star, four-storey, 150-bedroom and furnishings. complements the imaginative and unique
Chessington Hotel is owned by the Merlin All hotel bedrooms include an en-suite bath themes of Chessington World of Adventures,
Entertainments Group and operated on their or shower room, air conditioning, hairdryers, while still successfully providing the quality and
behalf by BDL Hotels Ltd as a Holiday Inn. televisions and internet access. In addition, range of business and leisure facilities required
The hotel is designed with two linear bedroom the executive rooms offer minibars, ironing by corporate guests.”
wings linked by a central glass atrium, with the stations, bathrobe and slippers as well as luxury The hotel’s restaurant continues the safari
ground and lower ground levels containing the bathroom fittings. feel in an atmosphere of vintage elegance and
hotel’s main public dining and leisure areas, For the corporate and events market a modern comfort. Tables for 120 diners are set
and accommodation on the upper floors. separate business suite has been created. around a tall mango tree at the rear of the glass
Taking around 14 months to construct, the Located beneath the north block the suite atrium, with the area opening up onto external
Chessington Hotel has been developed to comprises three meeting rooms each decking with views over newly created wetlands
provide accommodation for both the family accommodating 20 people, and a function and a proposed Safari Trail which is currently
leisure and corporate business markets, room and bar that can be divided into three under development by the theme park.
enabling Merlin to maximise the visitor potential smaller spaces and a breakout room for The restaurant style is further enhanced with
of this area. To support this, the Allison Pike meetings and seminars. mosaic floor tiles, oak flooring and stone
design combines standard, family and executive A leisure area featuring a 15m swimming pool, walling, while chairs are covered in faux
bedrooms together with conference facilities, a spa pool and changing rooms is located at the leopard, zebra and buffalo skins. A central
a bar, dining room and a leisure club – all end of the south block and is linked to the hotel fireplace with an open fire inside a clay kiln
created to a ‘safari’ style theme. via a walkway from the central atrium which is separates the restaurant from the bar area,
The exterior of the hotel has a ‘lodge’ design, lined with stone and timber trellis work. which opens out of the rear of the hotel with
with guests welcomed by a thatched canopy additional decking and a veranda.
entrance leading into the four-storey atrium The bar continues the theme with deep reds
where the reception is overlooked by a and burgundy contrasting with natural materials
six-metre sculpture of a giraffe, created from of light stone, pale plaster, dark woods and faux
wire. The entrance area leads through to the animal hides. To support the hotel service a
exotic, natural styling of the public and leisure state-of-the-art kitchen and theatre servery
areas, and an array of African prints and colours enables a single kitchen to serve both the
in the bedrooms, while large overhanging eaves function areas of the hotel and the restaurant.
formed with chunky timber brackets create John Bray, Director of Allison Pike Architects
attractive balcony detail. and Designers, said: “Working with Merlin
In keeping with the theme, 60 family Entertainments on the Chessington Hotel gave
bedrooms, situated in the north wing, have us the opportunity to introduce real creativity
been designed with soothing colours and and excitement into the project. The theme
natural materials. All have a bathroom located park itself is a fantastic family experience and
centrally in the room, creating two bedroom we wanted to reflect this in the hotel, without
spaces – one for parents and a smaller space alienating business travellers. As a result, we
with pullout beds for children – adding an extra have created an environment with immense
dimension to a stay at the Chessington Hotel. style and with a very broad appeal for visitors.”
Another 60 en-suite standard rooms are
134
See inside back cover for Reader Enquiry Card or go online: www.atdonline.eu 15
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