Canterbury hotel's rooftop bar 'Socialite' set to open in April
The venue will be run by renowned operators Paragon Hospitality
The rooftop venue at Canterbury’s new Hampton By Hilton Hotel will be called ‘Socialite’.
Operated by Paragon hospitality, it will be the the second site under that brand name, following on from the drinking and dining venue in the heart of Brighton.
Paragon Hospitality is a lifestyle operator behind a number of high-end restaurants, lounges and bars in unique locations across the country.
After almost a decade in the planning, a new 129-bed city hotel finally opened its doors in June 2021.
The opening of £20m hotel was a momentous day for building owners Zaw Htut and Mike Wood, who have poured their hearts and souls into making this happen after taking on the site nine years ago - a decade after Slatters Hotel shut.
Part old (the building includes some listed properties) and part new, the venue offers its own lounge area, open to the public as well as guests, a dining spot, a meeting room and gym, for those staying there.
In the reception area, you can also be able to peer down through glass panels and see the remains of an old Roman theatre.
An archaeological dig at the start of work uncovered thousands of artefacts, some of which will also be on display.
“The hotel is on a historic site and it’s not very often that you get to dig down and discover all that, so we wanted to display as many of the artefacts as possible at the hotel, “ explains sales manager Nicola Smith.
Hampton by Hilton, described as a focused service hotel, is one of 18 brands of hotels run by Hilton.
Smith says the hotel itself has a lot to offer in terms of facilities, with a large open plan lounge area, its own bar and dining area. There is also a cubby room which can be hired out privately or used by the public for teas and coffees during the day.
“The hotel is much-needed in the area,” she added. “We’ve got a great selection of hotels in the city; you’ve got your budget with your Premier Inn and Travelodge which are great and worthwhile, then you’ve got the Abode which is a different level to us, four star, champagne bar etc. We sit in the middle and that’s a nice place to be.”
She added: “We are all about Hamptonality - the moment you walk into the hotel it’s about engagement and the culture here is very much that from the minute a guest arrives to the minute they leave they are looked after.”
For more information see www.hilton.com/en/hotels/rcshxhx-hampton-canterbury/
