There’s a new British boutique hotel coming to Midtown Manhattan – The Whitby, New York, decorated by celebrated British hotel designer Kit Kemp
Kit Kemp’s colorful signature style already made waves when she decorated sister hotel to the The Whitby, The Crosby Street Hotel, an elegant establishment that the UK-based Firmdale Hotel Group opened in SoHo in 2009. The new iteration, which opened at the end of February this year, is bold and distinctly British in character, following the brand’s eight iconic London boutique hotels that include the popular Ham Yard Hotel.
The Firmdale group, which is owned by Kit Kemp and her husband Tim, is a major force to be reckoned with in London, and this second New York City hotel is likely to set the bar high for future boutique hotels in the Big Apple. Designed similarly to The Crosby Street Hotel in signature Kemp style, which is both eccentric and eclectic, The Whitby is decorated with contemporary pieces, creating a lavish, comfortable atmosphere that is brightly colored and vibrant, with bold patterns. Wherever you look there are touches of British sensibility, a welcome change from the neutral palette of the sleek, modern establishments that are found all over New York City.
Located in upper Midtown in a 16-storey building, close to Central Park and within walking distance of Broadway, luxury designer boutiques and world-class department stores, The Whitby is the ideal base from which to enjoy some of the city’s finest bars, restaurants, museums and art galleries including MOMA. It features just 86 rooms and suites, each individually designed, all with floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking city views. Some boast private terraces as well and all feature marble or granite en suite bathrooms filled with Kit Kemp’s bath and body collection. On the top floor one finds the highlight, the spectacular two-bedroom Whitby Suite, which features twin terraces – one facing uptown, the other downtown.
Luxury is the name of the game at The Whitby, and all guest rooms offer wide screen TVs, free WiFi and Bose sound systems. Guests enjoy 24-hour room service, and have access to a private fitness center on the premises as well as the hotel’s iconic Whitby Bar, which is situated on the ground floor and features a 30-foot long pewter bar. The bar opens onto the Orangery, which boasts vaulted ceilings and a skylight, and also serves as a dining room for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The bar itself is richly colored and airy, with exquisitely upholstered banquettes and gray oak floors. There’s a collection of hanging baskets in the bar that come from different parts of the UK, each with a special story attached. There’s also a warm, informal drawing room filled with cozy, overstuffed chairs and a fireplace. Another unique feature includes the 130-seat Whitby Theater, a private, 3D-enabled cinema.