by Charlotte Johnstone, The Telegraph, February 9, 2018
When I think of ‘capsule beds’ I think of futuristic spaceships and dystopian alternative realities; when I walked into St Christophers At The Village in London Bridge and saw them with my own eyes I thought of Dot Cotton in the Eastenders laundrette. A series of 26 rectangular boxes with hexagonal drum doors stacked on top of each other made the sleeping compartments look like a row of washing machines. The atmosphere was hushed, and I half expected to hear whirring, clicks and humming as the imaginary laundry rolled round.
I crawled into my designated cubby hole – my bed for the night – and immediately felt a reassuring sense of privacy. Not only was there enough space to sit up in, I could draw the blackout curtain over the entrance (effective, I’m pleased to report) and really feel I was in my own space. If you’ve stayed in a hostel bunk bed, you might know what I mean when I say you’re aware of everything going on around you and conscious about people being able to hear and see you.
It’s not like you can’t still hear people, you can. Especially as they all come in at 2am when the adjoining sports bar/café, Belushi’s, has closed. But it’s a more secure environment, and as the man from Yorkshire (strong accent, quite loud) climbed into the capsule above me, I wasn’t shaken side to side like you are when someone climbs into a top bunk, nor did I hear him incessantly shifting around in the night. And reception can provide free earplugs (among other amenties) if you're a light sleeper.
Mood lighting from a dial dispels the awkward reading lights that keep everyone else awake and give you eye strain. Plugs and USB ports mean you don't have to get out and grab your phone or laptop. And there’s a ventilation system to keep you cool if you're worried about the boxes getting stuffy. Quite a few people have asked me if it was like sleeping in a coffin, a question I asked myself the day before. But the curtain stands in place of what could be a door, and once the light goes out there is no sense of claustrophobia, just cool darkness.
I had a snoop around the rest of the hostel. It’s one of two St Christopher’s Inns on Borough High Street, which I realised after first walking into the wrong one. This one is next to Belushi’s and is referred to as ‘the Village’. Not only is it aimed at young travellers, backpackers and students, it’s also a party hostel and evenings centre around live music, sports and organised activities.
I remember what the venue used to be like, having lived in the area for several years. Sticky floors and a stuffy, stale-alcohol smell used to benchmark the joint as somewhere you might go for an end-of-the-night sambuca and a cheesy dance. But a big renovation – which started nine months ago and isn’t quite finished yet – has already made the whole place feel airy and up-to-date in its revamped American-style aesthetic, with nods to its sport and music-led themes in industrial caging, geometric floor designs and graffiti-style feature walls with images of sports players and rock stars.
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For a weeknight out of season, the bar was surprisingly busy. There were groups of students (the area has lots of halls and university campuses), older locals having a pint or a bite to eat on their own – the menu is an American all-rounder with nachos, deep-fried mac and cheese balls and burgers, to name a few dishes – among handfuls of young-professional after-workers, and those staying at the hostel. Staff organise loads of activities for hostel guests, from walking tours around London, to karaoke and pub crawls. During this particular evening there was a live musician in one corner of the bar and a beer pong championship in another. A lively atmosphere.
Downstairs, the Dugout is an extra chill-out space, with booths for groups who want to watch live sports together, and where a simple continental breakfast buffet is served. Once finished, there will be a secondary chill-out space next to the laundry room by the rooftop terrace (also a boon for when the weather is warmer).
With so much going on, it’s nice that you can leave your bed (and bags in lockers in the room) and just head downstairs to join the party. But be warned, there aren't really many 'quiet' communal corners to sit ands read a book in. If you don't fancy the pods, there are a couple of private double rooms, as well as bunk-bed dorms, one of which is female-only. But the capsules really are a novel take on your average hostel bunk. It’s a bit like a futuristic sleep factory, and doesn't pretend to be anything other than a hostel with a sociable atmosphere and the UK's first capsule pods.
Beds from £19 in low season; and from £34 in high. Breakfast included if booked directly. Free Wi-Fi.
Read the full review: St Christopher's Inn at the Village, London
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This article was written by Charlotte Johnstone from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.
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