Set the scene
It’s no mean feat to provide a space of calm in the middle of Tower Bridge’s hubbub, but enter the building and you'll find soothing pastel tones, endless greenery, and a giant reflective moon dangling above the check-in desk, and that Bermonds Locke has successfully pulled it off. Inspired by Southern Californian cool, the hotel interior is an ode to the colors of the Mojave Desert, with sand-colored flooring, cacti and wild plants, burnt-orange paneling, and passivated zinc walls reminiscent of a sun-scorched landscape. Beyond the design, the hotel’s industrial ceilings, gray walls, and rattan furniture feel more of a cultural ode to Cali’s Abbot Kinney, naturally slotting into the surrounding Bermondsey hub.
The backstory
Locke’s ethos centers around giving guests the freedom to curate their own stay. Part hotel, part apartment block, part co-working space, part dining destination, Bermonds Locke merges traditional expectations of a hotel with modern ideals. This location is the company’s third London arrival, joining one in Manchester and another in Edinburgh, with plans to open branches in Cambridge, Berlin, Dublin, Lisbon, and Munich.
Food and drink
Chef Robin Gill’s renowned Clapham restaurant, The Dairy, joined the endless list of coronavirus collateral in August 2020. Relocating to Bermondsey means a very different feel for the place, but the team has thrown itself into the move. The joint retains its creative, produce-led menus, with a selection of globally inspired small- and medium-sized dishes including beef tartare with wasabi, daikon, and shiso, and wood-roasted lamb with charred lettuce, mint oil, and hayonnaise (made from hay brought in that day from a junior chef’s farm in Hosford). Each plate places emphasis on individual ingredients, creating exciting flavors that surprise as much as they fill you up. For drinks, be sure to ask for recommendations from the staff—they will eagerly walk you through the tasting notes of different bottles, demonstrating both in-depth knowledge and passion. The cocktails are equally tasty; we tried the Somerset Spritz, a rich blend of homemade ginger wine, plum sake, and three-year-old cider brandy from the county.
What to do while you’re here
In the lobby, there is a co-working space and courtyard for those looking to send off a few emails. There is also a meeting room available for hire. Shaman is a third-wave coffee shop and all-day dining destination in the co-working area, perfect for caffeine hits, grab-and-go breakfasts, and snacks. In the evening, it turns into more of a bar than an office, serving cocktails and wine.
Outside the hotel, there are markets and neighborhood spots to discover. Bermondsey Street comes alive when the sun goes down, with people pouring onto the pavement from bars and restaurants. On the weekend, go for a walk along the river before exploring central London’s best food stalls. Borough Market is a 20-minute walk away, while Maltby Street Market is just around the corner.
The rooms
Studio-style bedrooms are cleverly set up to cram in as much as possible. Comprising 143 apartments, Bermonds Locke enables guests to treat their space as a fully functioning home, or a come-and-go hotel room as they explore the surrounding area. Bedrooms are equipped with a kitchen, laundry facilities, and a dining area. Each floor fits a specific color scheme, designed to reflect a desert sunset—the upper levels are a combination of gray, teal, and turquoise, gradually turning into coral hues and exceptionally vibrant pinks on the lower floors.
The service
All the staff were helpful and friendly, allowing guests to go about their business, but were easily available for any questions.
What sort of person comes here?
For young professionals in need of an adaptable place to bed down, Bermonds Locke ticks the boxes. It is centrally located, with plenty of food and drink choices nearby, and offers the flexibility of short and long stays. Equally, the hotel is ideal for travelers on a city break looking for a laid-back base, with self-catering options as well as proximity to some of the city’s key areas and attractions.
Anything we missed?
This is Locke’s first collaboration with a new architecture studio, demonstrated by the hotel’s distinct design, and its dedication to sustainability is clear in the use of reclaimed materials. Repurposed objects include concrete testing cubes meant for landfill, which have been used as plinths for tables in the co-working area, and the blackened rebar in the bespoke bed frames.
Anything you'd change?
While Shaman has great on-the-go options for remote workers, guests not staying for business purposes may miss the ease of popping downstairs for a cooked breakfast—although with countless food markets and restaurants nearby, the point seems almost irrelevant. The rooms have been created to fit everything necessary for a full, live-in experience, which means it can feel a little cramped at times—easily resolved by opting for an open-plan suite rather than the one-bedroom.
A final note: is it worth it?
Yes. Bermonds Locke is a calm, well-thought-out space amid the whirl of Tower Bridge. As the place blends an aparthotel with a co-working area, grab-and-go café, and one of London’s most popular restaurants, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was trying to do too much, but the brand pulls it off smoothly.
157 Tower Bridge Road, London, SE1 3LW
England
https://www.lockeliving.com/en/london/bermonds-locke
+44 20 7052 7170