Welcome to Walpole

Introducing The Beaumont, our latest Walpole member

Learn a little more about our new Walpole member, The Beaumont, in our interview with the Managing Director of the refined Art Deco hotel, Duncan Palmer
6th Jul 2023
Welcome to Walpole Introducing The Beaumont, our latest Walpole member

Overlooking a quiet garden square in the heart of Mayfair, The Beaumont embodies the spirit of the grand hotels of 1920s London and New York, albeit on a more intimate scale, with its iconic chequerboard lobby floor, early and mid 20th century paintings, and gleaming antiques. 

Since opening barely a decade ago, this privately owned and independently run five-star hotel has established an enviable reputation for its thoughtful, friendly service and its atmosphere of discreet, whispering luxury, winning many accolades along the way.

Learn a little more about our latest Walpole member in our interview with the hotel's Managing Director, Duncan Palmer.

 
 
 
 
Duncan Palmer, Managing Director, The Beaumont

Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand…

Duncan Palmer: The Beaumont opened in 2014 in a beautiful Art Deco building in the heart of Mayfair in London, overlooking tranquil Brown Hart Gardens. Conceived and managed by Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, London’s pre-eminent restaurateurs at the time (whose restaurants were always favourites of mine), the hotel distinguished itself from the outset as an independently owned and managed hospitality brand that set out to do things a little differently. Its impeccably-designed, elegant and sophisticated interiors were informed by the fictional and very elaborate tale of a New York hotelier opening his Mayfair hotel in 1926, blending European Art Deco and American aesthetics from the late 1920s and embodying on an intimate scale the spirit of the grand hotels of 1920s New York and London. Its heart and soul were delivered by a highly personal touch and a focus on human values that put the guests at the centre of everything.  

What is your brand best known for?

The personal connection: since opening barely a decade ago, The Beaumont has established an enviable reputation for its thoughtful, friendly service and its atmosphere of discreet, quiet luxury, winning many accolades along the way. The AA (the Automobile Association) named it the 'Hotel of the Year 2016/17 for Iits guest-centric team... genuine hospitality and engagement."

What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?

Within a very short time of opening, The Beaumont was internationally recognised, being featured on various Condé Nast Traveller Hot Lists, Gold Lists, Readers' Choice Awards and the Travel + Leisure World’s Awards, as well as being named the Best Independent Hotel in the World and the Best Small Hotel in the World by the discerning Gallivanter’s Guide: "A template for excellence.... London certainly has its fair share of [Grandes Dames], but in terms of pure hospitality, The Beaumont, in Mayfair, is a force unto itself."

Over the years, the product has continued to evolve and in the last two years alone the hotel’s sleek Art Deco interiors have been subtly rethought and enhanced by leading designer Thierry Despont, adding new layers of comfort and luxury, whilst preserving the heart and soul of the Grade II Listed 1926 building. The classic, timeless, clubby style and the warm, understated, intimate atmosphere continue to prevail. 

Why do you love the brand?

The Beaumont is grand in style, yet intimate and welcoming.  In many ways, it is the perfect hotel. With a relatively low number of rooms (72, but rising to 101 later in 2023), we can offer service that is truly personal, yet the hotel is big enough to be able to extend the sort of facilities people expect from a much larger property: a spa, a restaurant (The Colony Grill Room), a bar (Le Magritte), a lounge for afternoon tea (Gatsby’s Room), an outside terrace, and three private dining rooms.  All this in a beautiful art-filled building which, with Antony Gormley’s unique, inhabitable sculpture ROOM perched on a wing of the façade, is itself a work of art.

Its location on a quiet garden square, yet within a few minutes’ walk from Hyde, Park, Selfridges, Bond Street, Mount Street and Mayfair’s many private galleries, is much loved by guests.

Undeniably glamorous, the hotel was designed as a gentle nod to a bygone era with a strong sense of old world charm and elegance. As Forbes expressed so eloquently when nominating the hotel amongst the 12 Best Hotel Experiences in 2018: "I absolutely loved The Beaumont… It somehow manages to combine a full-blown in your face old world luxury hotel feel… with a whimsical air of fun, all on a smaller big-hotel-meets boutique scale. … Real luxury and friendly personal service without pretence in a perfect location make this a winner on every front."

Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?

The Beaumont is a luxury British brand born and rooted in London. In a short span of time, it has attracted a sophisticated, high-net-worth clientele from all over the world, and especially the USA, drawn by its unique offering in the London hotel market, its exceptionally high service standards and the quality of its product.

What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?

Walpole has evolved over the years to become a truly dynamic representation of the best of British luxury and this is a club to which we feel we belong. Not only that, it offers unrivalled networking, a mission to protect Britain’s hugely important luxury sector, as well as providing valuable market insights and access to trends in the wider world of luxury beyond hospitality. We look forward to engagement with like-minded brands, all recognised for their excellence, and we are keen in turn to introduce the existing members to The Beaumont, and to partner with them in important overseas markets to promote London as a destination.

If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose (and what would you like to do)?

We already work with a number of Walpole members, from fashion and retail to food, and are excited to create new friends and partnerships with so many iconic companies. On a personal note, and as the owner of a Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner W12, I would love to collaborate with Bentley Motors, a company known for its refinement, innovation and craftsmanship, echoing many of the attributes for which The Beaumont is known.

Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months?

We acquired an abutting building in 2018 and this year will see the addition of 29 new rooms and suites, as well as two private dining rooms, all designed by Thierry Despont. Alongside this acquisition and new launch, we have refurbished all the existing guest rooms to the same standard and style, and The Roosevelt, our presidential suite, will benefit from a complete revamp later this year. The hotel’s art collection has evolved, with over 1,000 significant pieces added, by more than 100 renowned 20th century British, American and French artists. By the end of 2023, we will have 101 guest rooms, seamlessly integrated in such a way that the hotel’s sought-after sense of intimacy and personal connection remains.

> Read The Beaumont's Walpole member profile

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