Interior Design of The Portobello Hotel
Design
The Portobello Hotel embodies the Bohemian spirit of the Portobello Road Market and the eclectic soul of Notting Hill and London of the swinging 60s. We are one of the most famous hotels in the capital – partly because we were the first boutique hotel in London, but also because our hotel has been home to rockers and rollers who recorded some of the most iconic albums in music history in the recording studios around the corner. Below our owners, Peter & Jessica Frankopan, share their thoughts on the design of the Portobello Hotel.
Music, fashion, and film
We knew the owners for years before we took it on. We’d told them for ages how Portobello was not just our favourite hotel in London, but the perfect sibling to our other hotels.
The Portobello Hotel oozes with music, fashion, and film history. We love that guests who stayed decades ago are still coming – and that those who come for the first time now make it their home away from home. And we love that you can see two A list stars sitting on nearby tables at breakfast and no one bats an eyelid. We love creating an atmosphere where everyone can relax.
Blending the past with the present
We have 21 rooms in the heart of Notting Hill, five minutes from Portobello Market, and a stone’s throw from Paul Smith, Agent Provocateur, and the boutiques of Westbourne Grove.
We are firm believers in respecting the past and blending it with the present day. So over the last five years, we’ve been slowly working our way through the hotel, upgrading the rooms and making the bathrooms bigger and better. But not for one minute did we want to make ‘our mark’ on the Portobello: our role is to tweak and make better without anyone noticing. That’s the secret of doing things the right way.
One-of-a-kind pieces
It has been such fun continuing this legacy of such a famous place. We have scoured local markets and antique shops for one-of-a-kind pieces and little nic nacs and details that bring the hotel’s identity to life, while being faithful to its past. We know it’s important to our guests to be able to stroll out the front door and walk to places that they are going to like. We are in a perfect location for that – 30 minutes from the City, 20 mins from the shops in Knightsbridge and 5 mins from Portobello market.
True to the spirit of Portobello
The Portobello remains true to what it is because of the attention to detail, sensitive restoration, and the uniqueness of the finish. We’re not surprised it is so popular with those in the know, and while we are thrilled it often gets used for fashion shoots, high profile interviews, and famous guests, we also know that the key to our success is to be discrete, professional and above all, true to the Portobello spirit. We hope you love it as much as we do - Jessica Frankopan
