Rock ‘n’ Roll Hotel

CNN.com: London’s newest hotelier Mark Fuller is showing commendable bravado for someone about to open a luxury hotel during a global recession.
“F*** the recession, let’s get on with it,” he says, while sitting on the roof terrace of the Sanctum Soho, a 30-room establishment dubbed the rock’n’roll hotel, as much for its “anything goes” service philosophy as the pedigree of its owners, which include the co-managers of heavy metal band Iron Maiden.
“We do not recognize there is a credit crunch because we believe you should battle through it,” Fuller says, adding “If you get panicky and scary about things like this you’re no man at all.”
The former band manager turned entrepreneur, is looking quite the rock star tonight, decked head-to-toe in black while a shiny silver skull stares ominously from his belt buckle. Downstairs, staff are frantically preparing for a launch party that promises to be heavy on champagne, cocktails and celebrities. It’s almost like the crunch doesn’t exist.
This is Fuller’s world and he’s hoping plenty of people will want to join it. “In every downturn in the economic climate I think people look for some affordable glamour and escape,” he says. The partners in his new hotel venture ooze rock credential: Iron Maiden co-managers Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor.
While non-music types and the tone-deaf are welcome to stay in the hotel, over-enthusiastic groupies are not.
“If you’re on the road for three months, you can never escape,” Smallwood says. “The fans, some of them, think they have a God-given right, just because they’re staying in the same hotel, to put a camera in your face over your cornflakes.”
“The rule here is no autographs and no photographs,” he says firmly. “Say Paul Weller is sitting in the corner having a beer and you go and ask for an autograph or photograph, you will not stay here again.”
Along with privacy and a beer at all hours, guests have access to an on-call guitar doctor, a necessity, apparently, if you break a string while strumming in your room. Guests who have inadvertently left their guitar at home can hire one from reception.
The rock star concept extends to the room decor. The silver wallpaper and mirrored columns may appear garish in daylight, but at 3am one suspects they add a touch of glamour. Free standing baths are a bold leap from the bed and the mini bar is well-stocked with champagne.
Forget the recession, live like a rock star in new hotel [CNN.com]