Meet the new TTG Luxury Travel Awards host: Raffles London at The OWO

Visitors to the capital will be able to dine in nine restaurants and try three bars within the historic spaces of the Old War Office, one of London’s most historically important and powerful addresses and a building once inhabited by Winston Churchill. 

The Old War Office inspired Ian Fleming to write the famous James Bond series after working as key liaison officer between the War Office and Britain’s Naval Intelligence Service, and the building went on to feature in various Bond films, including Skyfall, Spectre, Licence to Kill, A View to a Kill, Octopussy, and most recently, No Time to Die. 

Now known as The OWO, following a seven-year restoration project the iconic Whitehall property opened its doors to the public on 29 September, including the 120-key Raffles London at The OWO, marking the brand’s inaugural property in the UK. 

Attendees at the TTG Luxury Travel Awards 2024 will also be able to explore the prestigious new property on Friday 1 March, when 350 finalists and industry peers will enjoy networking drinks in The Lawrence, a beautiful reception space, followed by lunch in the hotel’s Whitehall Ballroom, which is complemented by meeting rooms named Morse and Code. 

Dining dedication 

The OWO will become a new epicentre for dining in London, with many of the food and beverage venues operational at the hotel’s launch, and others scheduled for the coming months. 

Within Raffles London at The OWO, guests can sample three dining experiences from world-renowned chef Mauro Colagreco, including his first UK venues, such as Saison, set within a former historic library of the Old War Office and reflecting his commitment to seasonal cuisine, serving Mediterranean cuisine throughout the day. The Drawing Room will be another all-day dining option within the hotel, overlooking Horse Guards. 

The Guards Bar will be the ideal spot to watch part of the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony for Buckingham Palace while sipping on one of the 16 signature drinks – including The London Sling, inspired by Raffles Singapore’s iconic Singapore Sling. Meanwhile, The Spy Bar will serve cocktails in a subterranean former government interrogation room, turned into a secret “speakeasy”. 

Philippe Leboeuf, managing director of Raffles London at The OWO said: “We have worked tirelessly to create a destination that preserves the heritage of this significant address, while breathing new life into it.”

Parisian institution Cafe Laperouse will make its first international opening in a striking pavilion and restaurant space in the main courtyard, with interiors courtesy of art director Cordelia de Castellane, renowned for her work with Maison Dior.