The Allison Pike Partnership has created a major new themed hotel at one of the UK’s most popular attractions. Architectural and interior design specialist the Allison Pike Partnership has completed work on the new £15m safari themed hotel at the Chessington World of Adventures theme park in Surrey.

The four-star, four-storey 150-bedroom Chessington Hotel is owned by the Merlin Entertainments Group and operated on their behalf by BDL Hotels Ltd as a Holiday Inn.

Providing accommodation for both the family leisure and corporate business markets, the Allison Pike design combines standard, family and executive bedrooms together with conference facilities, a bar, dining room and a leisure club.

The theme throughout is ‘safari’ - from the ‘lodge’ design of the exterior to the exotic, natural styling of the public areas, and the African prints and colours in the bedrooms. To welcome guests a thatched entrance canopy leads into a four-storey atrium where the reception is overlooked by a six-metre sculpture of a giraffe.

In keeping with the theme 60 family bedrooms, situated in the north wing, have been designed with soothing colours and natural materials. All have a bathroom located centrally in the room, creating two bedroom spaces - one for parents and a smaller space for children – adding an extra dimension to a stay at the Chessington Hotel.

Another 60 en-suite standard rooms are located in the south wing, along with 30 executive rooms on the top floor in which the interior design complements the safari style with timbered floors and enhanced finishes.

For the corporate and events market a separate business suite comprises three meeting rooms each accommodating 20 people, and a function room and bar that can be divided into three smaller spaces and a breakout room. A leisure area features a 15m swimming pool, spa pool, and changing rooms.

Director of Hotel Development at Merlin Entertainments Philip Baker said: “We are delighted with the new hotel, which is already proving very popular with both family and business guests. Its design subtly complements the imaginative and unique themes of Chessington World of Adventures, while still successfully providing the quality and range of business and leisure facilities required by corporate guests.”

The hotel’s restaurant continues the safari feel, in an atmosphere of vintage elegance and modern comfort. Tables are set around a tall mango tree at the rear of the glass atrium, with the area opening up onto external decking with views over newly created wetlands and a proposed Safari Trail, currently under development by the theme park.

The restaurant style is further enhanced with mosaic floor tiles, oak flooring and stone walling, while chairs are covered in faux leopard, zebra and buffalo skins. A central fireplace with an open fire inside a clay kiln separates the restaurant from the bar area, which opens out of the rear of the hotel with additional decking and a veranda.

John Bray, Director of Allison Pike Architects and Designers said: “Working with Merlin Entertainments on the Chessington Hotel gave us the opportunity to introduce real creativity and excitement into the project. The theme park itself is a fantastic family experience and we wanted to reflect this in the hotel, without alienating business travellers. As a result, we have created an environment with immense style and with a very broad appeal for visitors.”

Email: anna.nicholls@contextpr.co.uk