Monkey Island joins Small Luxury Hotels of the World
YTL's Monkey Island Estate has joined the Small Luxury Hotels of the World global hotel consortium ahead of its opening in August.
Set in seven acres in Bray-on-Thames in Berkshire, the restored island estate will consist of 27 bedrooms and three deluxe suites, all designed by New York-based Champalimaud Design, which also created the interiors at YTL's first British property, the Gainsborough Bath Spa.
Following a complete renovation by YTL Hotels, the white pavilion and temple buildings will make up the main hotel areas. The property, overseen by general manager Lee Kelly, will also feature a Monkey Island Brasserie and Monkey bar and lounge overseen by executive chef Will Hemming, and a ‘floating spa' on a barge on the River Thames.
The property was one of three acquired by the Malaysia-based hotel group in September 2016, alongside the Glasshouse hotel in Edinburgh and the Academy in London's Bloomsbury.
Monkey Island Estate is accessible only by a footbridge or by boat. The island has been the haunt of monarchs, aristocrats, writers and artists during its 800-year history. Its name stems from the monks that lived on the island until the 16th century, and became known for the ‘grotesque' monkey paintings added to the pavilion while under the ownership of the 3rd Duke of Marlborough in the 18th century. The estate had been operated as a hotel since 1840.
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