Tailored by Design: the Sir Paul Smith Suite

In a city where tailoring is an art form, London has mastered the perfect fit. Quirky, original, and very much cut from a different cloth, Brown's Hotel shares a flair for the unexpected with our friend and neighbour, Sir Paul Smith — the man behind its most stylish suite.

“It’s a great privilege,” Paul shares, revealing how he felt about being asked to design a space for Brown’s Hotel, “and I’ve had a great deal of fun in the process!”

The suite reveals Paul’s personal touch in every detail. Before you even enter, you know you’re in the right place. Yes, his signature on the front door is a slight giveaway, but there’s another clue. The handle has been replaced with an unpolished brass banana, a detail that, you’ll note with a wry smile, is typical of the humour behind the man and his brand.

Why a banana? The design is a subtle nod to the Christmas bauble Sir Paul created in 2019 to honour the 125th anniversary of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, which was written during the author’s visits to Brown’s Hotel in 1894.

Inside, the welcome feels just as thoughtful. On the marble coffee table, a colourful arrangement of freshly cut flowers perfumes the room. Beside it, a handpicked selection of your favourite fashion magazines awaits perusal, perhaps Vogue Italia, L’Officiel Paris, or The Rake.

Step outside the hotel, and just a few doors down, hidden behind an eye-catching iron façade, you’ll find Paul Smith’s Albemarle Street store. It’s through this remarkable space – an art gallery and shop in one – that our partnership came about. This jewel-box of a store holds a special meaning for both Sir Paul and Lady Olga Polizzi, Director of Design, who share a love of original design.

Paul highlights how the two worked so well together, “Just as Brown’s does with its rooms, we design every Paul Smith shop differently to celebrate the area’s individuality, which is just one of the reasons the project appealed to me.” 

At the store, enjoy an unhurried hour or two leafing through the latest collections with one of Paul’s expert stylists in a private appointment arranged by our concierge. Choices made, and new suits selected, continue your stroll along one of Mayfair’s best-dressed streets. Upon returning to your suite, your new purchases are already neatly in place, unpacked and arranged just as you like by your wardrobe concierge. 

Settle into the deep-sea hued sofa with a pot of freshly brewed tea and still-warm scones, and let your eyes wander across the suite. Note the clever use of Paul’s signature stripe motif throughout and personal touches. Can you spot the fire ‘dogs’, custom made to resemble Homer, Paul’s first canine shopkeeper? If you need a hint, look for the glint of a thigh-length bronze boot – a coal bucket in disguise.

Most intriguing of all is the floor-to-ceiling feature wall festooned with Sir Paul’s personal collection of framed pictures and treasured objects. See if you can locate the picture taken by Paul’s photographer friend, Julian Broad, who shot his wedding pictures.

“I’m so pleased we’ve been able to include objects that inspire me personally,” shares Paul, “and I hope, in turn, they’ll inspire the guests staying in the suite.”

Pull up his 1970s leather desk chair, one of several pieces relocated from Paul’s office at his Covent Garden HQ, and take a seat at the writer’s desk. Gaze up to admire abstract artworks and a cubist painting emulating Braque. Below it, an original portrait shows a man in a blue sweater – a pensive young Paul Smith, perhaps?

The wall is just as fascinating when viewed from a distance. See if you can spot a mini robot standing next to handcrafted pottery cups or a folding wooden ruler, encased behind glass as if it’s a work of art.

There's another reason both Sir Paul and Brown's Hotel share a soft spot for monkeys. His first children's book, The Adventures of Moose and Mr Brown, features a loveable monkey named Mr Brown – a further reminder of Sir Paul’s wit. It was entirely fitting that he chose Brown's Hotel for the book’s launch party.

As you walk into the bedroom, softened hues and subdued lighting invite restful slumber on an invitingly large king-size bed. Pops of yellow are restrained to a camomile colour and, for extra snuggle, you can use the Paul Smith throw provided at the foot of your bed. On the pillow, your embroidered initials offer a gentle reminder that you’ve truly arrived, the comfort of feeling utterly at home.

As guests staying at Sir Paul Smith’s suite will discover, the space he has created for Brown’s Hotel is unique, a timeless blend of quality and craftsmanship. The designer is not only our neighbour but also a creative ally, sharing a distinctly British sense of humour and a meticulous approach to design, all with a twinkle in his eye.

This sense of character and care is at the heart of Suites & Beyond, our way of transforming suites into stories shaped by the people within them. Personalised touches, meaningful comforts and experiences rooted in place create stays that feel intimate rather than ornamental. The Sir Paul Smith Suite embodies exactly that — a space designed to make every moment feel distinctly, comfortably yours.

A stay tailored to you, make the Sir Paul Smith Suite part of your story. To enquire, please get in touch by emailing  reception.browns@roccofortehotels.com or calling +44 20 7493 6020.