This Hotel Stay Is A Dream For Devil Wears Prada Lovers

3 days ago

Gird your loins: this is the most glamorous way to see the new musical

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With its storied history and maximalist interiors, The Bloomsbury has always felt both theatrical and stylish. So it makes total sense that the hotel has launched a special package to tie in with the release of The Devil Wears Prada Musical, the first ever stage retelling of the cult 2006 film. Especially considering the Dominion Theatre, where the show has just kicked off its inaugural season, is mere seconds away from the hotel. C&TH’s Ellie Smith checked in for a suitably fashionable post-theatre stay.

Review: The Bloomsbury’s The Devil Wears Prada Experience

A neo-Georgian building perched just off bustling Tottenham Court Road, The Bloomsbury has its roots in the feminist movement of the early 20th century. Built in 1928 by Edwin Lutyen, it originally served as the London base of the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association), where women of different nationalities and occupations were invited to meet – the first club of its kind.

This period was also the heyday of the Bloomsbury Group: a set of writers, intellectuals and artists who lived and worked in the neighbourhood’s elegant townhouses, including novelist Virginia Woolf, artist Vanessa Bell, art critic Clive Bell, and economist John Maynard Keynes.

In the early 2000s, the building was transformed into a hotel – opening as its current iteration under The Doyle Collection in 2008 (who also owns The Marylebone and The Kensington). Nods to its literary history are felt throughout: the Dalloway Terrace restaurant is named after the eponymous character created by Woolf, and the entire hotel oozes creativity, art and hedonism.

Rooms range from compact Cosy Rooms to the decadent Luxury Studio Suite, which we were lucky enough to stay in. With views looking out onto the Dominion Theatre’s stage door, it felt like the perfect spot for our Devil Wears Prada extravaganza – with chic interiors to match. Statement floral wallpaper lines the walls, alongside a giant king-sized bed, blue velvet armchairs and an Italian marble bathroom complete with a rolltop bath and a generous set of MALIN+GOETZ products.

The Devil Wears Prada Stay Package

Our night began with a pre-theatre meal at Dalloway Terrace, the hotel’s Instagram-famous al fresco dining spot. Each season, the space is given a seasonal makeover: right now it’s looking all wintry and magical with snow-capped fir trees, frosted pinecones and foliage, with blankets and heating to keep things cosy whatever the weather.

The menu offers an array of elegant modern European dishes: we began with starters of burrata with winter tomatoes, pear and walnuts, and sea bass crudo with a ginger and lime dressing. For mains, it was a delicious glazed hispi cabbage dish, and crab linguine with a parsley crumb, both cooked to perfection. After a quick Peperoncino Margarita – a twist on the classic spicy marg made with Italicus and Calabrian chilli peppers – it was time to head round the corner to see the all-singing, all-dancing Runway crew in all their glory.

Fans of the film will love this endlessly fun musical, which features a score from Elton John and stars Vanessa Williams (who you’ll know as Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty) as editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly. Expect catchy songs, striking retro outfits and all the iconic quotes we know and love, played out on stage to a jolly audience. Bonus: The Bloomsbury’s package includes two tickets with premium seats, which meant we were just a few rows away from the action.

Afterwards, it was back to the hotel for cocktails at The Coral Room, the hotel’s buzzy Martin Brudnizki-designed bar known for its vivid-coloured walls. A unique drinks menu is presented as a story, The Great Irish Tour, which sees a man touring the Emerald Isle, ‘following the poets and tasting cocktails imbued with the flavours of fourteen counties along the way’. Our top pick was the Strawberry Blonde, a fruity number made with Italicus Rosolio di Bergamoto, Savoia Americano, and strawberry sparkling wine. Here, a special Devil Wears Prada-themed afternoon tea is also being served, complete with themed dishes like Nate’s grilled cheese, and a Greek yoghurt mousse and blueberry dessert entitled ‘It’s not just blue, it’s cerulean’.

The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast in the subterranean Trellis Room, which serves a decadent buffet plus made-to-order dishes, like Eggs Benedict, avocado on toast, and waffles with fresh berries. After that, it was time to check out and step back into reality, playing the musical’s soundtrack all the way home.

The Final Word

With its top-class food, spoiling rooms and unrivalled proximity to London’s theatreland, The Bloomsbury’s package is the ultimate London experience for The Devil Wears Prada fans. Miranda Priestly would approve.