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3. Where Luxury Meets Legacy: Exploring Raffles at The OWO

Tuesday 14 January 2025

Raffles at The OWO was a meticulously planned hotel opening in Q4 of 2023 and our clients have raved about the style and service from day one. Our team were lucky enough to explore this treasure in the heart of London and sit down with the team for a freshly baked scone and a pot of tea...

Traversing the 2.5 miles of corridors, we explore everything from the lavish events space, to the luxury bedrooms, to the diverse food and beverage outlets. At a glance, Raffles at The OWO features 120 bedrooms, including 39 suites, 9 restaurants, 3 bars, a grand Ballroom, and a 20m indoor pool and vitality pool. 

Raffles London at The OWO occupies a magnificent Grade II Edwardian Baroque building in Whitehall, the epicentre of British Government. A meticulous six-year restoration has seen thousands of expert craftsmen and women transform The Old War Office, today known as The OWO, into an exciting destination, packed with history. 

Starting with the largest event space, the spectacular 678 sq m Whitehall Ballroom has seven-metre double-height ceilings allowing for dramatic staging and set design; perfect for everything from creative product launches and Christmas parties to Awards Dinners and Conferences. Secure rigging points are built in for advanced lighting and sound event production, so that the space can be used for everything from immersive meetings to artistic productions at West End theatre-level standards. Designed by acclaimed architect and interior designer Thierry W Despont to be an exceptionally versatile event space, the ballroom can be split into one third and two thirds, with fully soundproofed walls. Entered via the magnificent Grand Staircase, the Whitehall Ballroom has capacity for up to 600 people and is complemented by extensive pre-function space and six additional meeting rooms.

Complimenting the grand Ballroom, are Morse & Code. Morse Code was widely used as a means of communication in the days when the building operated as The Old War Office in the 20th century. Today these two meeting rooms are named as a tribute to this vital codified communication method. These versatile rooms can be configured into many different formats, and each is divisible into six separate spaces. Each room has a built-in wall-mounted 55-inch LED flat screen, and discreet drop-down projection facilities are available in some rooms. A separate private ante room is available for catering, so that even small events can remain self-contained. The ante-room itself is a unique event space crossed with an art gallery and would be perfect for a drinks reception. 

For smaller groups, guests can be guided on a historical tour of the building, offering a special experience for those VIP events. 

The aesthetic of the bedrooms is a contemporary interpretation of classic Edwardian style, befitting the history and splendour of the Old War Office Building (The OWO); while the Suites offer more traditional decor featuring warm, rich textures and colours. 

Mauro Colagreco's ‘chef’s table’ offers an immersive private dining experience in which the plate is transformed into a picture before your eyes, and the authentic flavours of the tasting menu dance with all the vibrancy of an Elizabethan pageant. This private dining room is suitable for up to 20 lucky guests!

Saison offers all-day dining with Mediterranean flair but is also available for private hire and often serves as a refreshment space complementing the smaller meeting spaces, Morse & Code. The space is suitable for a maximum of 50 guests. 

The Drawing Room is a stately British room reimagined, with contemporary furnishings set against historic architectural details, wood panelling, an original fireplace and a grand piano to keep guests entertained. Ideal for guests to experience Raffles Afternoon Tea, jazz evenings, cocktails, fine wine or Champagne receptions. 

The Guards Bar & Lounge is a splendid new watering hole for London. Located on the ground floor with its own separate entrance facing Horse Guards, the official entrance to Buckingham Palace, the space would be ideal for a pre-dinner reception or cocktail party. 

Pillar Kitchen offers an abundance of healthy sweet and savoury snacks, fresh juices and smoothies, coffees and dishes of the day for eating in or taking away. Its nutrition-led approach is an integral part of the holistic wellness activities led by Pillar Wellbeing at Raffles London at The OWO. 

Taking up residence in a striking modern pavilion in the courtyard of The OWO is a first London outpost of this enchantingly glamorous Parisian institution. Start your day at Café Lapérouse with a menu of Parisian breakfast signatures, and end with a fine dining experience featuring firm favourites from the Paris original, along with a generous helping of joie de vivre.

What we found refreshing about this luxury hotel, and particularly as a newer opening, is how flexible the wonderful events team are onsite. No request is too big, small or ludicrous and if it's never been done before - they will find out if it can be!