The Counting House is one of London’s most historically layered buildings. Constructed in 1893 as Prescott’s Bank, it stands on the ancient foundations of a Roman basilica — once the largest of its kind north of the Alps. In 1998, Fuller, Smith & Turner transformed the former bank into a celebrated public house, honouring both its Victorian grandeur and Roman heritage. In 2019, Fuller, Smith & Turner appointed Sibley Grove to unlock the building’s next chapter: converting the offices above the pub into 15 boutique hotel rooms, with a further six bedrooms completed in a second phase in 2023 — 21 rooms in total.
Sibley Grove was appointed for its ability to create classic, high-quality interiors that respond sensitively to a building’s historical context — producing a refined, timeless aesthetic that serves modern travellers without compromising the character of the architecture. Every design decision began with the building itself: its materials, its proportions, its story.
Each of the 21 guestrooms was designed in accordance with Sibley Grove’s Design for Disassembly philosophy. Steel and timber fixtures and fittings were specified for their durability, longevity, and ease of dismantling, ensuring individual components can be reused, refurbished, or recycled rather than replaced at each refurbishment cycle. This circular design approach significantly reduces construction waste and long-term capital expenditure, while minimising operational disruption — a critical consideration for a busy, revenue-generating city-centre hotel above a trading pub. The result is a boutique hotel that honours 2,000 years of history while being built to perform, sustainably and commercially, for decades to come.
Scope of Appointment
Sibley Grove led interior design and FF&E specification across 21 guest rooms, delivered in two phases (2019 and 2023) above an operating, trading pub — one of four hospitality projects Sibley Grove has delivered for Fuller, Smith & Turner.
Recognition
Shortlisted, Brit List Eco Design Award, 2019
Related Projects
Part of Sibley Grove’s ongoing relationship with Fuller, Smith & Turner across their London hotel estate — see also The Chamberlain Hotel – London, Drayton Court Hotel – London, and The Fox & Goose – London.
Project Delivery: September 2023
Location: London, UK
