A beloved hotel in the seaside town of Margate opens its doors next month—with a helping hand from Matthew Slotover, the co-founder of Frieze magazine and fairs. Slotover is one of three partners behind the relaunch of the highly anticipated Fort Road Hotel, a local landmark in the gentrified coastal spot. Slotover teamed up with the residential developer Gabriel Chipperfield and the artist Tom Gidley to rebuild and reimagine the property which was purchased at auction four years ago in “an advanced state of decay”, says a project statement (Kent Online says that the neglected property was snapped up for £360,000).
The new 14-room hotel, which also boasts a roof terrace and 35-cover restaurant, opens its doors next month and will be awash with works by contemporary artists linked to Margate including Tracey Emin, Lindsey Mendick and Hannah Lees (look out for the specially commissioned mural by Sophie Von Hellermann which fills the stairway between the restaurant and two-storey basement bar). The hotel, refurbished by Fleet Architects, is taking bookings prior to the 1 August launch.