Where?
Located in Stratford – directly in front of Stratford International station and only 6 minutes from King’s Cross, making it an ideal spot for those coming for work trips.
40 Celebration Ave London, Greater London, England E20 1DB, United Kingdom
What is The Gantry?
The Gantry is a hotel featuring 291 rooms alongside four food and beverage outlets: Union Social for all-day dining, offering, a champagne wine bar and the 18th floor Sky Bar set to be the highest in East London.
They collaborated with local designers, artists and food & drink experts to bring this urban resort and hotel to life. In particular, they have partnered with the Jealous Gallery and Print Studio, a respected and renowned gallery in Shoreditch, whose work can be seen in places such as the Tate Modern and now within the walls of The Gantry.
The Vibes
After we arrived, we went up to the Union Social restaurant, where we sat by the Champagne bar and were offered a lovely cocktail of champagne, vodka, and grapefruit, which was very fitting!
The contemporary design on this floor was really beautiful – the Champagne bar really stood out with rows of champagne bottles lining its back wall and above. The long lighting over the tables by the bar added to the modern feel, as did the blue velvet plush chairs underneath them.
To eat, we were taken to the other side of the floor, where we passed a long bar and a busy open kitchen. The open kitchen design was very well thought out, as the aromas of dishes could be smelt from the dining area.
We were also given a tour of some of the rooms in The Gantry, some of which were overlooking the 2012 London Olympics Park! The rooms had a contemporary vibe with an industrial flair, fitting with the rest of the building. The amenities offered in some rooms were impressive, from Espresso coffee machines to Dyson hairdryers. It is clear to see that the attention to detail and comfort was at the forefront of designing these rooms as everything incorporated into them has been so well thought through.
One lovely touch that the suites had were binoculars, to make use of the outstanding view from the windows.
Before we finished our evening, we had a cocktail on their beautiful 18th-floor terrace, which had a gas fire pit and a gorgeous view of the London skyline.
What We Ate
Starters
To start, we were given a selection of small plates, including nocellara olives, deli meats with cheeses and focaccia bread, all of which were delicious and beautifully presented.
Mains
I chose the risotto dish option for my main, and my plus-one had the beef cheeks. I enjoyed the risotto thoroughly, its serving being very generous and the seasonal vegetables on top roasted, giving it a lovely flavour. The beef cheeks were in a delicious sauce and were tender and succulent.
Desserts
To end our meal I had rice pudding for dessert, topped with fruit and nuts whilst my plus-one had the decadent sticky toffee pudding which tasted as good as it looked.
The Takeaway
All in all, The Gantry is a great spot if you’re looking for somewhere in an ideal location that also has everything you would need an arms-reach away. Or if you are looking for somewhere to have dinner or even a work-dinner, The Gantry is able to accommodate.
Book your stay or visit to the Gantry here:
