A New Bar Near Buckingham Palace Has Just Opened – With Whisky, Cigars and a Courtyard
St James’ Court has completed a major refurbishment, bringing a new bar, whisky and cigar lounges and an expanded private members’ club to Buckingham Gate
St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, just off Buckingham Gate, has completed the latest stage of a multi-year refurbishment, with a new bar at its centre. Called 1897 – The Bar, it takes its name from the year the hotel’s red-brick townhouses were built and is open to hotel guests and non-residents.
The bar sits beyond the redesigned lobby, with views towards the courtyard. The room is finished in deep green tones and polished surfaces, with the courtyard visible beyond.
Drinks include cocktails and tequila-led serves, alongside bar snacks. It is intended for a pre-dinner drink or a nightcap, rather than as a restaurant.
There are also new whisky and cigar lounges, offering a separate setting for whisky and cigars, as well as meetings and private conversations.
The private club upstairs
The refurbishment also expands Taj The Chambers, Taj’s invitation-only private members’ club.
The Chambers is a place for members to work, meet, dine and entertain. The London club now has a second boardroom, a members’ lounge and a private dining room, as well as a glass-roofed terrace overlooking the courtyard for private events, drinks and member gatherings.
Membership is invitation-only, making The Chambers a separate proposition from 1897 – The Bar.
Inside the hotel’s new look
The wider refurbishment covers the hotel’s ground and first floors, including the entrance, lobby and event rooms. The entrance has been opened up with pale stone finishes, soft metallic details and a sculptural overhead installation, while the lobby leads towards the bar and courtyard.
The Ballroom has been restored with a lighter feel, retaining its domed trellised ceiling, crystal chandeliers and gold-accented wood-panelled walls.
The changes were designed by Conran and Partners, the architecture and interior design studio founded by Sir Terence Conran. The design takes cues from the hotel’s late-19th-century townhouse architecture, with a lighter palette and updated interiors.
1897 – The Bar at St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel
54 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AF
Website: https://www.stjamescourthotel.co.uk/en/
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
