Conrad London St. James

Conrad London St. James is a luxury hotel in Westminster, London, operated within Hilton's Conrad Hotels & Resorts portfolio. It stands on Broadway opposite St James's Park Underground station and close to the Palace of Westminster, placing it within a part of London strongly associated with government, Parliament and the historic seat of political power. The property occupies a building whose earlier identity was Queen Anne's Chambers, a late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century collection of offices and chambers intended for people and organizations needing short- or medium-term accommodation near Westminster. The building's historical associations extend beyond its architecture. During the First World War period, the Brewers' Society occupied premises there from 1909 to 1917 while lobbying government over brewing restrictions, including limits affecting sugar use during rationing. In a later period, the Treasury Solicitor was also based at Queen Anne's Chambers. During the Second World War, the building served as a Westminster base for lobbyists and civil servants whose work was affected by wartime policy and economic controls. These institutional associations provide much of the property's heritage narrative. Before becoming a Conrad, the hotel operated under the InterContinental name. InterContinental relinquished management of its second London property less than two years after the opening of InterContinental London Westminster. Following a change in ownership and management arrangements, the property was relaunched as Conrad London St. James in September 2014. Hilton described the relaunch as the opening of the twenty-fourth Conrad hotel and the first Conrad property in London. The conversion involved a substantial renovation that preserved the building's nineteenth-century façade while creating a contemporary luxury-hotel interior. The hotel has 256 guest rooms, together with suites, a fitness centre, seven meeting rooms, a bar and a restaurant. Its interior combines modern furnishings and finishes with original art installations. Notable works associated with the property include Chris Levine's holographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, Lightness of Being, and The House Always Wins, a large sculpture credited to Evil Ed and Dan Robotic. The art-led interior is part of the hotel's effort to distinguish itself from a conventional business hotel while retaining the service, accommodation and events infrastructure expected of an international luxury chain. Food and beverage have been central to the property's identity. Its principal restaurant, The Pem, takes its name from the nickname of suffragette Emily Wilding Davison. The restaurant has been listed in the Michelin Guide and was headed by chef-director Sally Abé. In 2024, the hotel announced that Jennifer Collins would become head chef. The property also includes The Blue Boar, a bar formerly known as the Blue Boar Smokehouse. Sally Abé opened the bar in 2021; contemporary coverage characterized it as a chef-led casual restaurant rather than a traditional pub. The hotel is also notable for its proximity to Parliament's Division Bell. The bell signals that members must return to the chamber for a division vote, and its sound can be heard from the property. This location supports the hotel's positioning as a heritage-conscious luxury base for leisure visitors, political and business travelers, dining guests and meetings. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate headquarters, founder, independent stock listing or current ownership entity for the individual hotel.

The building now occupied by Conrad London St. James began as Queen Anne's Chambers, a group of chambers constructed around the turn of the twentieth century in Westminster. Its location near the Houses of Parliament made it suitable for short- and medium-term occupants whose work required immediate access to the political centre of London. Rather than functioning solely as a conventional office block, the chambers accommodated organizations and individuals with practical or lobbying interests in government. One documented early tenant was the Brewers' Society, which held premises at Queen Anne's Chambers from 1909 to 1917. During this period, the organization engaged with government over the consequences of wartime controls on the brewing industry, including restrictions on sugar use and the wider impact of rationing. In subsequent years, the Treasury Solicitor was also based in the building. During the Second World War, Queen Anne's Chambers served as a Westminster location for lobbyists and civil servants connected with industries and public matters affected by the war. The building was later adapted for hotel use. It first operated under the InterContinental name as InterContinental London Westminster. InterContinental ended its management of the property less than two years after the hotel had opened. Following a change in ownership and a change of hotel management arrangements, the property was renovated and relaunched in September 2014 as Conrad London St. James. Hilton presented the opening as the twenty-fourth hotel in the Conrad portfolio and the first Conrad hotel in London. The redevelopment retained the building's historic external character, including its nineteenth-century façade, while introducing an interior designed around contemporary luxury hospitality. The completed hotel contains 256 guest rooms, suites, a fitness centre, seven meeting rooms, a bar and a restaurant. Its design incorporates original art installations and other commissioned or displayed works. Among the best-known pieces associated with the property are Chris Levine's Lightness of Being, a holographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, and The House Always Wins, a large sculpture by Evil Ed and Dan Robotic. Dining became an important part of the hotel's identity through The Pem, a restaurant named after suffragette Emily Wilding Davison's nickname. The restaurant has been included in the Michelin Guide and was headed by chef-director Sally Abé. The hotel also developed its bar offer through The Blue Boar, previously called the Blue Boar Smokehouse. Abé opened the venue in 2021, and its positioning emphasized food and relaxed dining as much as drinks. In 2024, Jennifer Collins was announced as the restaurant's new head chef. The hotel's location remains one of its defining assets. It is directly opposite St James's Park Underground station and near 55 Broadway, the Houses of Parliament and other Westminster institutions. It is also within hearing distance of the Division Bell, the parliamentary bell that calls members back for a division vote. The combination of a politically significant setting, preserved architectural heritage, modern interiors, art, dining and meeting facilities gives Conrad London St. James a distinct position within London's luxury hotel market. Public sources identified for this dossier do not provide a founding year for the hotel as a Conrad property, a separate corporate headquarters, an individual founder, or a verified current owner of the real estate.

• 2024

  Jennifer Collins named head chef of The Pem

  [1]Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org

  Jennifer Collins was announced as the incoming head chef of The Pem.

• 2021

  The Blue Boar opens under Sally Abé

  [1]Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org

  Sally Abé opened the hotel's bar, which had previously operated as the Blue Boar Smokehouse.

• 2014

  Property becomes Conrad London St. James

  [1]Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org

  After operating as InterContinental London Westminster, the renovated property relaunched as Conrad London St. James, described as the first Conrad hotel in London.

• 1917

  Brewers' Society tenancy ends

  [1]Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org

  The Brewers' Society's documented tenancy at Queen Anne's Chambers ended after its period of lobbying over wartime brewing controls.

• 1909

  Brewers' Society takes premises at Queen Anne's Chambers

  [1]Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org

  The Brewers' Society occupied premises in the building and engaged with government on brewing-industry restrictions during a period of wartime rationing and regulation.

Luxury heritage hotel combining Westminster location, contemporary design, art installations, chef-led dining and business-event facilities.

• Hotel accommodation · 2014

  Guest rooms

  The hotel provides 256 guest rooms in a renovated historic building. The accommodation offer is designed around Conrad's luxury positioning and is complemented by suites, contemporary interiors and access to the property's dining, fitness and meeting facilities.

• Hotel accommodation · 2014

  Suites

  Suites form the property's higher-tier accommodation offer. Public reference material identifies suites as part of the hotel but does not provide a complete room-category breakdown or detailed suite specifications.

• Restaurant

  The Pem

  The Pem is the hotel's principal restaurant and is named after Emily Wilding Davison's nickname. It has been listed in the Michelin Guide and was associated with chef-director Sally Abé before Jennifer Collins was announced as head chef in 2024.

• Bar and casual dining · 2021

  The Blue Boar

  The Blue Boar is the hotel's bar, formerly called the Blue Boar Smokehouse. It was opened by Sally Abé in 2021 and developed as a food-oriented, chef-led venue rather than a conventional traditional pub.

• Hospitality and events · 2014

  Meetings and events

  The hotel offers seven meeting rooms for business gatherings, private events and other functions. Its Westminster location and proximity to government institutions support its role as both a luxury accommodation property and an events venue.

• Guest amenity · 2014

  Fitness centre

  A fitness centre is included among the hotel's guest facilities. The available reference material confirms its presence but does not specify its equipment, opening hours or membership arrangements.

• 2024

  Appointment of Jennifer Collins as head chef of The PemOther

  Background

  The Pem had previously been headed by chef-director Sally Abé and was part of the hotel's Michelin Guide-recognized dining offer.

  Action taken

  The hotel announced that Jennifer Collins would take over as head chef.

  Aftermath

  The appointment represented a change in culinary leadership at the hotel's principal restaurant. Further operating or financial effects are not established in the available sources.

  Source

• 2021

  Launch of The Blue BoarProduct launch

  Background

  The property had a bar previously known as the Blue Boar Smokehouse and sought to develop a more distinctive food-and-drink identity.

  Action taken

  Sally Abé opened The Blue Boar as a chef-led bar and casual dining venue.

  Aftermath

  The venue broadened the hotel's food-and-beverage proposition, although contemporary criticism noted that it functioned more like a casual restaurant than a traditional pub.

  Source

• 2014

  Conversion from InterContinental London Westminster to Conrad London St. JamesStrategy

  Background

  The property had previously operated as InterContinental London Westminster, but InterContinental surrendered management of the hotel less than two years after opening its second London property.

  Action taken

  Following a change in ownership and management arrangements, the building was renovated and relaunched under Hilton's Conrad brand as Conrad London St. James.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch created the first Conrad hotel in London and preserved the historic façade while adding contemporary interiors, art installations and an expanded luxury-hospitality offer.

  Source

1. 1Conrad London St. Jamesen.wikipedia.org