INTERVIEW ANDREW ONRAET ANDREW ONRAET INTERVIEW
LEFT: The Hotel Verta development at Battersea Heliport will inaugurate Von Essen’s Metropolitan set
when it launches MIDDLE: Washbourne Court, one of twelve hotels in the ‘Country Set’
RIGHT: Lower Slaughter Manor, one of ten hotels in the ‘Classic’ portfolio
He is conscious of the need to move the brand on The jury is out as to whether Culpepper Spa will take The next step in the development of Von Essen is
to attract new customers but of one thing he is over from Bath House or whether the two will run the opening of the 70-bed Hotel Verta in London
adamant: “We do not want to be following fashion,” alongside each other as in Bath House by Culpepper in June this year and with that, the Metropolitan
he says. “We are trying to get back to a more genteel or something similar. Meanwhile, the Culpepper Set is born. “It is a departure for Von Essen but for
experience but one relevant to today’s lifestyle.” experience is being crafted as I write. me, it is coming home,” says Andrew Onraet. It is
Onraet’s current major project is rolling out the Von Onraet has a small team working at the company’s the first hotel at the London Heliport at Battersea
Essen spa brands. Aquea Sulis (water of the gods) is West Country head office. “You get caught up with Reach, which Von Essen also owns, and includes 250
the Luxury Family range and Bath House Spa, which the idea that everything happens in the city and this apartments.
started at The Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath, is now is where all the cool dudes are but you are in a clique And the design? “We are going back to the glamour of
also installed at New Park Manor in the New Forest. and when you leave, you are much more open and early aviation, Sunderland flying boats, a woman with
“We acquired Culpepper last year, and Bath House receptive to the people you come across. The West a mink stole. We are looking at having staff trained by
and Culpepper have similar philosophies – inspired Country has a huge number of people we work with Singapore Airlines and at having a Voncièrge.” There
by herbs, holistic, organic – and we will develop that – it is about bringing craftsmen back into design,” he is also the possibility that a luxury design house may
into our spa range to replace von Essen’s Numbers says. sponsor the heliport.
range,” he says. “The first Culpepper Spa will be at “And we have a master craftsman in-house, Steve And with the naming of Hotel Verta, Onraet is also
Washbourne Court, hopefully by December this year. Edgar. He takes a piece of wood, shuts himself away proud to contribute a phrase to the English language.
It also has a life outside the hotels, with retail shops, and the most amazing piece of furniture comes out of “This is the only place in central London where you
and we will supply it as a spa or amenity offering in it – as though the fairy has been overnight. He takes can land commercially. It is London’s vertical gateway.
other hotels.” enormous pride in his work.” We coined that.”
040 MARCH / APRIL 2009 INTERVIEW VISIT WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE INTERVIEWS VISIT WWW.SLEEPERMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE INTERVIEWS INTERVIEW MARCH / APRIL 2009 041
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