Birch, London’s award-winning hub that epitomises the idiom ‘work hard, play hard’, has opened its 2nd hotel-come-members club, this time heading South! Selsdon, just outside of Croydon, may be an unlikely choice to open an uber-cool city escape, but what you’ll find when you reach the 19th-century mansion is acres and acres (200 to be precise) of infinite rewilding woodlands, a project Birch has put in place to reinstate the former golf course to its feral state, inviting wildlife back in.
Birch Community is a first-of-its-kind concept, intermixing co-working, fitness facilities, rooms, restaurants and art studios into one big adult playground. While the Cheshunt location gives off fun-fuelled festival vibes, Selsdon is grounded by nature. There’s space to breathe, land to explore and tons to do! In a world where our eyes are glued to our phones, Birch hopes that in this environment, you will meet like-minded people, reconnect with nature and try something new.
The design is coherent with the sister branch, imagined by leading interior design and architecture studios, A-nrd and Sella Concept. Quirky and cool, the style mirrors the crowd Birch attracts. Many hidden gems were uncovered during the remodelling, forging the characteristics of the space, with contemporary design elements woven into the original mosaic parquet flooring, stained glass windows and decorative bas-relief ceiling. Apricot hues warm up all-day dining spots, the Meadow bar and Vervain, contrasting to the Snug where a bold indigo blue ceiling is enriched with dark oak and regal shades of purple. Rough around the edges, there’s beauty in the imperfections of the building which clearly had a past long before Birch. Rather than stripping away, Birch has interjected their cool-meets-contemporary style into its existence, and luckily it blends marvellously.
All 181 rooms take a calmer route based on a sage palette, featuring recycled linen, hand-blown glass wall lamps and an upholstered bouclé couch. Pair-back and perfectly fine, the rooms are simply for sleeping, Birch is more interested in wowing you with what’s going on in the hotel rather than retreating to the rooms, so there’s no TV or tech to distract you.
Led by Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott, Birch houses two restaurants; all-day dining British brasserie, Vervain and the much-anticipated, Elodie. The 5-course menu explores farm-to-fork dining, with ingredients picked from the estate and the kitchen garden. In sync with the seasons, the dishes celebrate the best of British produce, from summer courgettes with gooseberry, sorrel and elderflower to spring lamb with green olive, turnip and three-cornered garlic, the introductory menu champion seasonality with flare. Both vegan and vegetarian varieties of the menu are on offer to accommodate dietary options.
The wellness space at Birch compromises a state-of-the-art gym, yoga studio, spin studio and treatment rooms, with the expansion of a Lido, yoga deck and padel courts coming very soon! Offering a full timetable of fitness classes including yoga, barre, cycling, strength and HIIT, as well as monthly events that are rooted in holistic wellness from gong baths to nature therapy walks, there’s a world of wellbeing to get stuck into.
Creativity is at the core of Birch’s ethos, setting them apart from other clubs and hotels. The art studios host pottery, screenprinting, ring carving and spoon-whittling workshops, designed to tap into your creative spirit. For those in what happens in the kitchen, there are sourdough-making lessons in the bakery!
If you happened to be based in South London, The Hub is one of the coolest co-working spots we’ve come across. The polar opposite of a corporate environment, it’s ideal for creatives that need desk space without the extortionate fees attached, and you can mingle with others in your line of work.
Little ones are more than welcome at Birch, with family rooms, and dedicated spaces and workshops for kids and tweens. Birchlings, the kids club, is a space for kids to experiment with arts and crafts, plus there is an arcade and, of course, the great outdoors to run wild!
Birch is the place to head if you need to tap out from city life without having to go too far. Find your inner artist, book a yoga class, get lost in the woods and feast on exceptionally great food. Whether it’s a solo trip, a stay with friends or a couples weekend, Birch Selsdon is the cool new place that has a bit of everything going on!
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