Green Rooms

When I think of Wood Green, I remember being robbed at a cash machine on the high street. But thankfully, I’ve found a positive aspect to recall this busy little district of north London. Introducing Green Rooms, your new favourite hangout …

Located just a stones throw away from Wood Green Station, this discount arts hotel is quickly winning over the hearts of those that step through its large glass doors. The building itself was the former North Metropolitan Power Board building, which was then taking over by Haringey council’s housing offices. The building remained vacant for five years before Nick Hartwright, Green Rooms owner, rescued it from demolition by pitching his idea for a social enterprise art-hotel within it.

This N22 hotel makes the most of its space. Twenty-two doubles rooms, two studio apartments and two huge dormitories, all with preferential rates for artists and people working in the creative industries. All the furnishings in the bedrooms are vintage, and sourced by the chairman. The price of a bed for the night start from just £18.

And what about the rest? The art-deco building retains some of its original features. The main staircase and some of the bathrooms have clung on to the beautiful 1930s porcelain tiles. The bar and lobby hosts an exposed concrete floor, filament lightbulbs cascading above the bar and an assortment of furniture and artefacts, with each piece more unique then the last. The warm and inviting atmosphere is instantly palpable. 

General Manager Annette Russell, who has been working there since April last year, says Green Rooms differs from the likes of the Ace Hotel or Shoreditch House because of its accessibility, authenticity and down to earth nature. 

She added, “Young artists or early career creatives can’t afford to join exclusive clubs, but anyone can come and stay, eat and drink at Green Rooms, and be considered for exhibitions or to run events here”. 

Annette points out that their hotel attracts people from all walks of life. The building’s top floor has a large gallery space, which is available to hire and held an open mic night yesterday. The kitchen has a six month rotation which is now serving modern Caribbean home cooking, and previous to this residency was Columbian street food. Near the sleeping dormitories, the hallway walls are lined with artwork leftover from the Turnpike Art Group show and right now, a theatre group of Maori people deep in discussion are seated near the entrance. The mix of ethnicities really add to Green Room’s vibrant allure.

Annette, who used to manage musicians and a small non-traditional b&b on Chatsworth Road, said Green Rooms appealed to her because it had the same spirit and target market as my place, Russell’s.

So, is there room for expansion in the future? “The idea of Green Rooms was always that it is scalable”, said Annette.

“London still needs more affordable places to stay and the creative industries as a whole need supporting, so the two can work together in other parts of the city.”

Check out the Green Rooms website for further information, and upcoming events.