LONDON, LATE MARCH — The Gate is a boutique aparthotel opening in Aldgate East, which offers the service and style of a hotel with the privacy of a self-service apartment. Modern travellers’ needs and taste in accommodation are changing – people desire more choice than a traditional hotel versus self-catering apartments, and The Gate aims to bridge the gap between the two. The new aparthotel feels like an elevated version of your own home, with full-service amenities and flexible stay periods where guests can stay for one night or up to three months.
Situated in Whitechapel, just a one-minute walk from Aldgate East tube station, The Gate is directly influenced by the style and culture of the vibrant London streets it overlooks, connecting guests with its surroundings and the local East London community. With 20 floors and 189 rooms, The Gate offers unparalleled 360° views of The Gherkin, The Shard and Brick Lane appealing to guests no matter the length of their stay. Partners include Maddox Gallery, who have curated the artwork around the hotel including a Banksy in the lobby and Retna, Bradley Theodore and The Connor Brothers pieces displayed in the private members lounge, making the property their new East London Gallery. The healthy-eating trailblazer Maple & Co will be opening its 8th location here, Maple & The Gate café, opening to the public on the ground floor including outdoor seating. The renowned New York fragrance brand, Le Labo, supplying in-room bathroom amenities and a boutique gym with Technogym equipment including Peloton bikes, which are also available in apartments by prior arrangement.
Aga Rosinska, General Manager at The Gate Aparthotel said: “The idea for The Gate aparthotel was born out of traditional gate and guesthouses, where people would socialise in communal spaces then retreat to their private rooms. The gatehouses would often be right on the edge of a city, so guests could use the property as a base to explore the surrounding neighbourhoods easily. We wanted to recreate this offering and atmosphere for a modern audience. It’s really exciting to be launching our first aparthotel, introducing a new kind of hospitality experience to the London market and Gateway to the City – we cannot wait to see how our guests use the space.”
The heart of The Gate is its communal areas, with different spaces perfect for socialising or conducting business. The stylish members lounge on the fifth floor, is exclusively for hotel guests and features extensive seating for dining, working or just relaxing on comfortable sofas, enjoying the artwork. Service is unobtrusive and guests can help themselves throughout the day to the self-service coffee, water and juice station.
With a Banksy in the lobby, Maple & Co café and 360 views of the city, London welcomes its latest aparthotel experience programme which includes outdoor yoga classes, BBQs and wine masterclasses for the summer. By night the space is transformed into a relaxed bar with a wine vending machine, beer wall and spectacular lighting creating the perfect spot to enjoy a drink before heading out for dinner. Guests can also order take out and enjoy their meal in the lounge or in the privacy of their own room.
Guests checking in for days or weeks can enjoy rooms designed to be modern and functional, but with artistic flourishes to create a distinctly homely feel. There are nine room categories each with a bedroom, fitted kitchen and living area, and some featuring a separate living space with a sofa bed, which is ideal for families. Introductory rates start from £100 including VAT for the studio apartments, offering excellent value. Room types include one and two bed apartments, accessible rooms, interconnecting family rooms and rooms with skyline views. No two rooms are the same with unique art and bespoke upholstery and new mid- century furniture designed in Europe.
The combination of personal service and latest technology is showcased in the guest experience, with self-service check-in and guest requests communicated to the hotel team with a tap on their mobile device. If guests need local insights such as a new restaurant to try out, a show to catch or any local hidden gems to discover, the staff – ‘Gatekeepers’ – are trained to help with any request.
Apartments feature: cooking facilities, Hypnos beds, Soundbars with Bluetooth connectivity, Nespresso machines, walk-in showers and rainfall shower heads, washing machines and dishwashers. Attractions within walking distance include the bustling Spitalfields market, St Katharine’s Dock and Brick Lane to name a few.
The Gate promises to combine a lifestyle hotel with apartment amenities to cater for a modern generation of long and short-term guests providing a Gateway to the capital.
