The old Bromley Town Hall that looked like it could have once impressed the locals, quietly, over years of being empty, became an unimpressive building that you ignored as you drove by, writes Michael Holland.
Now, though, you cannot fail to be impressed with the portico and the steps leading up to that front door, grandly lit to entice you in. Now it is a luxury boutique hotel – Brama, writes Michael Holland.
After the Mayor of Bromley cut the red ribbon the media were allowed in to feast our eyes on the work that has been going on inside for the past few years, work that has brought back the best of that tired old building and made it a place to be used and enjoyed again.
The rooms have an Art Deco touch but with a modern upgrade. The furniture seems to be rejoicing all that was good in furniture design over the past century. There are hints of 1950s G-Plan and of Scandinavian simplicity. The colours do not shout at you, they sing softly and in harmony
Brama is perfectly situated for those who do not want the hustle, bustle and expense of central London, because they have teamed up with Clockwise who provide well-designed offices, shared workspaces and meeting rooms to make Brama especially attractive to business people who want more flexible working; who want to hold meetings or video conferences in one of the many rooms available in this Neo-Georgian Grade II listed establishment without the noise and fumes of the City or West End.
You can sit in a roomful of computers with others or at a table with your laptop in the former Council Chambers with fluted green marble columns and three large stained-glass windows that let in the light from the courtyard.
Two cells in the basement, from the old Magistrates’ Court era, have been transformed into a meeting room and office, and larger rooms are available.
(Clockwise details: https://work-clockwise.com/locations/bromley/ ) Brama guests receive a 20% discount on meeting room bookings during their stay.
As we walked around this magnificent property, half-lost and in a daze at the wonder of it all, we were approached by a bright-eyed young woman with a warm smile who introduced herself as Hetna Patel. She offered her help before directing us to the courtyard where we ‘must try the desserts – they are out of this world’! And before we left she made us promise to return for the wine-tasting.
There is an all-day restaurant – Dorothy & Marshall – and those of us at the launch were fortunate enough to sample some of the dishes that would be served and some of the wines from a very nicely selected list.
Servers weaved their way through the throng with trays of amuse-bouche that gave an insight into the level of cooking in the kitchen. The Truffle Croquettes were a highlight, but were hotly contested by the wagyu beef sliders, fish and chips in a cone(The batter was divine), goat’s cheese in filo pastry (Very moreish), vegan, gluten-free taco with jackfruit vegan, and Eton Mess – one of the delights recommended to us by Hetna, who reappeared towards the end of this brilliant night to ask if we had sampled the desserts and if we knew that they were vegan. No, we didn’t know and were surprised at the knowledge. It is one more reason to try more plant-based foods in these days of sustainability, so thank you Ms Patel for making that a reality.
The wine-tasting was a fun affair, and likened to ‘speed-dating’. Michael Robins (Supplier to Dorothy & Marshall) galloped through the info about grapes, region, and taste, as is usual for these events, but he always finished off each potted talk with a little tale about the grower, thereby showing us his knowledge but also his personal relationship with each vineyard.
We were drinking far too fast for me to recall precisely, but according to my notes my favourite white was the 2022 Petit Chablis, and the best red was the 2018 Rosso di Montalcino from Tuscany. More than anything, though, was the light-hearted approach to wine tasting when so many people take it too seriously.
(Website: https://dorothyandmarshall.co.uk – Guests of the hotel receive 10% off their restaurant bill)
Bromley Old Town Hall has absolutely everything you need to work, rest, chill and play. Whether it’s a conference in a cell, an interview in the lounge, a tipple on the terrace, or a night’s sleep in luxury linens, it is all here in the middle of Bromley
Brama, 6 Court St, Bromley BR1 1AN
Website: https://bramahotels.com/
