Nick Jones Opens St Clement Hotel Near Trafalgar Square
A Riverside Return: What’s Coming to Temple Place
After stepping away from the Soho House empire he built over three decades, Nick Jones is quietly making waves in our neighbourhood. His new St Clement Hotel, opening for soft launch this June through September on Temple Place just steps from the Strand, marks his first major hospitality venture since departing the international members’ club giant in 2022.
The 90-bedroom property sits in one of London’s most vibrant areas, close enough to Trafalgar Square and the West End to catch London’s heartbeat whilst remaining tucked away on a quieter street. What makes this project distinctive isn’t just another five-star hotel—it’s Jones’ particular philosophy of creating neighbourhood spaces that locals actually want to visit, not just tourists passing through.
Below the hotel sits Corner Shop 180, his ambitious grocery, deli, and wine bar concept launched last year. Above it, the residential tower includes 15 apartments alongside the hotel rooms. By September, expect a fully-fledged wellness offering with pool, gym, and spa facilities that promise to rival anything in central London. The timing and location suggest Jones understands what this part of the city needs: quality dining, accessible luxury, and genuine community spaces.
Who’s Running the Show: Meet Your New Neighbourhood Chefs
What separates St Clement from other hotel openings isn’t marble lobbies—it’s the culinary talent Jones has assembled. Leading the charge is Danny Bohan, an ex-River Cafe chef taking the helm of Cafe Clement, the all-day dining restaurant with garden and terrace seating. Bohan’s menu reads like a love letter to seasonal British and European cooking: think steak tartare, whole baked trout with spring peas and hollandaise, and roast duck for two. This isn’t hotel room service; this is destination dining.
The headline act arrives in September when Florence Knight opens Lunette, a rooftop restaurant that immediately becomes one of the neighbourhood’s most coveted tables. Knight’s reputation precedes her—her menus balance ambition with accessibility, exactly what a neighbourhood venue needs. Meanwhile, Bobbi’s Bar operates until 3am, giving the area a sophisticated late-night option beyond the usual Soho haunts.
For locals staying through summer, Corner Shop downstairs offers everything from fresh produce to prepared meals, wine, and coffee. These aren’t big names from outside—they’re chefs and operators who understand what makes London dining special. The result: a hotel that actually serves its community, not just its guests.
What This Means for Our Neighbourhood and What’s Next
Nick Jones’ return to the hotel sector signals confidence in central London’s post-pandemic recovery. For residents and workers around Temple Place and the Strand, St Clement represents something increasingly rare: a major hospitality investment by someone who actually understands neighbourhood culture. This isn’t a corporate chain expansion; it’s a founder rebuilding his legacy on his own terms.
The soft launch through summer 2026 matters locally because it gives us time to experience this new space before full opening. Booking a room means testing Cafe Clement and Corner Shop 180 without tourist-season crowds. Local freelancers and remote workers should pay attention—the combination of gym, café, and co-working spaces in luxury surroundings could reshape how we think about neighbourhood gathering spots.
Watch for September’s opening of the pool, spa, and Lunette restaurant—that’s when St Clement transitions from exclusive preview to full community fixture. If Jones’ track record with Soho House taught us anything, it’s that he builds spaces people actually want to spend time in. For those of us living and working near Trafalgar Square, this feels less like a hotel opening and more like a neighbourhood upgrade we didn’t know we needed. Check stclement.co.uk for booking details and updates.
