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Profile
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The Rookery is latest venture from Peter McKay & Douglas Blain, the duo behind Hazlitt's in Soho and The Gore in Kensington. Three years were spent patiently reinstating all the period features of the charming row of 18th century brick buildings. |
Tucked away in a tree-shaded alley off Cowcross in fashionable Clerkenwell, it is a secret place for those in the know. Inside, The Rookery is period charm. Polished wood panelling, stone-flagged floors, open fires and genuine antique furniture give the place a homely atmosphere, more private club than hotel.
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Each of its 33 bedrooms is different and full of character. Each named after real people who actually lived in the buildings more than 100 years ago. Even the bathroom fittings are genuine antiques, all lovingly restored.
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Why The Rookery? From the middle ages, the surrounding area was a bustling cattle market outside the jurisdiction of the City of London. The convenient lack of enforcement attracted all manner of villains including, reputedly, Charles Dickens's immortal rascal, Fagan. |
Such areas became known colloquially as stews or rookeries which were understood to mean 'criminal areas'. Today, Clerkenwell is a district of exuberant architecture, lively street life and home to some of London's newest trendy restaurants & bars. |
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