The Connaught opens fourth bar

Acclaimed London hotel The Connaught has unveiled The Red Room, its first new bar in more than 10 years.

Set to open Wednesday 29 September, The Red Room joins The Connaught Bar, Coburg Bar and The Champagne Room in the Mayfair hotel’s selection of drinking dens.

The new venue is themed around a collection of red works by four artists: Louise Bourgeois, Jenny Holzer, Ti-a Thuy Nguyen and Trina McKillen.

The selection was curated by Paddy McKillen, co-owner of Maybourne Hotel Group, which owns and operates the hotel. “The Connaught has long been home to a significant collection of art, both classic and contemporary,” said McKillen.

“This paved the way for a collection of four female artists’ work, all in red, which is unusual in its own right. The vision of The Red Room has been in my mind for many years and each piece was bought specifically with this space in mind.”

The bar will revolve around wine, with a list create by the hotel’s director of wine, Daniel Manetti.

Many wines from The Connaught’s 30,000-bottle cellar will be available to taste by the glass, including rarities such as a 1994 Petrus, thanks to a new Coravin system.

Building on The Connaught Bar’s renowned Martini trolley, The Red Room will feature two custom-made trolleys for decanting and serving wine.

Meanwhile, cocktails will also be on offer, with a six-strong menu developed by director of mixology Agostino Perrone. Each drink is made with and inspired by a specific wine. ‘Red’ and ‘White’ are set to be the venue’s signature serves, and the rest of the selection will change seasonally.

The space was designed by Bryan O’Sullivan, who previously worked with Maybourne Hotel Group on the design of The Berkeley Bar & Terrace and The Painter’s Room at Claridge’s.

He chose a pink onyx bar and an Italian marble fireplace to serve as the focal points of the space, complemented by a colour palette with cream, blush pink and pearl blue tones.

O’Sullivan said: “My studio and I were honoured to be asked to work on yet another incredible bar for the Maybourne family, especially given the calibre of art that acted as the launch pad for our ideas.

“When designing the space we envisioned an eclectic art collector’s home: a space that feels elevated yet utterly relaxed.”