Permit Room opens in Notting Hill, blending Bombay bar culture with historic London lodging
Permit Room, the sister brand of the Dishoom restaurant group, has launched its fourth venue and first lodging offering in Notting Hill, London. The new site, located at 186 Portobello Road, has recently opened to the public this May. The venture transforms the historic Colville Hotel, a Victorian building dating back to the mid-1860s, into a combined bar, restaurant, and guest accommodation. The design, led by interior architecture studio Macaulay Sinclair, seeks to blend the atmosphere of Bombay’s bar culture with the historical character of the London landmark.
The Portobello Road location offers an all-day bar café on the ground floor, a first-floor dining room, and guest lodgings on the second floor. The concept draws inspiration from both Bombay’s historic permit-only bars and its more contemporary, accessible quarter bars, aiming to create what the designers describe as a warm, welcoming, neighbourhood feel.
Laura Newstead, associate director at Macaulay Sinclair and project lead, commented on the approach: “As our fourth project with Permit Room, it has been hugely exciting to work on this new offering from the brand in a historically inspiring space. Our aim for the lodgings was to transcend the typical hotel experience, to create the feeling of staying in the apartment of a well-travelled protagonist, brimming with personality.”
She continued: “One of our main inspirations was Bombay’s Kekee Manzil – the residence of a family pivotal in founding the country’s modern art movement. With such a fascinating history, we wanted to pay homage to this through the artwork arrangement and direction.”
The guest accommodation comprises a two-bedroom apartment with en-suite rooms and a lounge with a dining area. The interior design references notable Bombay hotels, with bespoke beds reminiscent of the Bentleys Hotel and the vibrant panelling of the Sea Green Hotel. More than 30 original works by South Asian artists are displayed throughout the venue.
Permit Room’s ground floor bar café is designed to have an independent atmosphere, hosting a programme of music events, a classic jukebox, and collaborations with local partners. The space includes distinctive features such as perforated plywood bench seating, timber floors, rattan blinds, and ceiling mouldings inspired by Bombay landmarks.
The first-floor dining room, seating 44, is intended to evoke informal domesticity, with mid-century chandeliers, parquet flooring, antique pieces, and full-height curtains framing the Victorian windows.
Food Desk
For further information and reservations, visit Permit Room’s website here.
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