London


<p>The clocks turn back on Sunday (27 Oct) and you know what that means? Short days and dark mornings and evenings. If you&#8217;re one of millions of people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) don&#8217;t despair, because cool Old Street-based hotel Montcalm East has come to your rescue by collaborating with Sunday Light during <a href="https://londondesignfestival.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London Design Festival</a>, so you can dine beneath replica sunshine. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0002-768x1024.jpg" alt="Sunday Light at Montcalm East hotel in Shoreditch" class="wp-image-6097" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0002-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0002-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0002-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0002.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



<p>The brain child of Imperial College London and Royal College of Art graduates, Sean Hammett and Nat Martin, it sounds a bit woo woo but there&#8217;s science behind the art &#8211; just 30 minutes sitting beneath it is enough to achieve your recommended daily light intake, improving your mood and energy levels in ways that standard lighting can&#8217;t achieve. </p>



<p>Forget daylight lamps, we&#8217;re talking an enormous UFO-looking installation with an LED that produces over 30,000 lumens, cooled by flowing water. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sounds-interesting-but-does-it-work">Sounds interesting, but does it work? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0000-768x1024.jpg" alt="light tunnel at Montcalm east " class="wp-image-6095" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0000-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0000-225x300.jpg 225w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0000-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0000.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></figure>



<p>Muddy booked a lunch with a friend to experience Sunday Light and entered Montcalm&#8217;s Marlowe Café, Bar &amp; Restaurant via a tunnel of light, which was already enough to put us in a good mood. Once seated below the installation, it was down to business choosing what to eat and catching up on  gossip. </p>



<p>The light was intriguing, very different to the harsh artificial lights we&#8217;re used to in winter, but neither was it the soft, subtle light we&#8217;d imagined &#8211; it felt like being bathed in sunshine, without the harmful UV rays or need to wear shades. </p>



<p>As a sunshine-lover, Muddy definitely struggles a bit in winter. Some people embrace the season and love the hibernating vibe and getting cosy indoors, but we&#8217;d rather jump on a plane and, like migrating birds, head south to the sun. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0004-1024x768.jpg" alt="Sunday Light at Montcalm East " class="wp-image-6094" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0004-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0004-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0004-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0004.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Apparently SAD affects more than 12 million people in Northern Europe, and while day light lamps might help you get up in the morning, one little light simply can&#8217;t replicate the sun so sufferers are often prescribed light therapy (you sit in front of a very bright light box for a prescribed amount of time). Personally, I&#8217;d rather bathe in Sunday Light (though apparently it would cost more than £7000 to install one in your home!). We genuinely felt like we&#8217;d been sitting in sunshine, and if that helped to improve our mood while eating delicious food, then it&#8217;s a thumbs up from Muddy.  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-about-the-food">What about the food? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0006-1024x768.jpg" alt="Food at Montcalm East hotel in Shoreditch " class="wp-image-6093" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0006-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0006-300x225.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0006-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/IMG-20241023-WA0006.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>If you&#8217;re craving carbs now the nights are drawing in you&#8217;re going to love it here as the menu features major comfort food dishes, think Cumberland sausage and mashed potatoes with onion gravy and flat Iron chicken, crushed new potatoes and broccoli. </p>



<p>We opted for a selection of starters, including sticky, moreish Korean chicken wings with spring onion, chilli, sesame, a creamy, gloopy burrata which we scooped up with crispbreads and perfect mouthfuls of salt and pepper chilli squid dipped in a sriracha mayo. It was mood-enhancing food as well as lighting. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-and-the-rest-of-the-hotel">And the rest of the hotel? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="668" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-25-at-07.42.36-1024x668.png" alt="Montcalm East hotel in Shoreditch " class="wp-image-6092" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-25-at-07.42.36-1024x668.png 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-25-at-07.42.36-300x196.png 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-25-at-07.42.36-768x501.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-25-at-07.42.36.png 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Five-star all the way. Based in a striking diamond-shaped building inspired by op-art artist Bridget Riley, it&#8217;s a stroll from Old Street tube station on the edge of Shoreditch, and its interiors are very much a nod to its creative East London surroundings, from the Brit-led art work to the focus on photography including black and white prints, a sexy little red velvet Photo Lab on the Mezzanine level where you can snap Polaroids and drink cocktails, and resident photographers running workshops. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="663" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/auto_Montcalm_181299-1367x885-1-1024x663.jpg" alt="Montcalm East Photo Lab " class="wp-image-6090" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/auto_Montcalm_181299-1367x885-1-1024x663.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/auto_Montcalm_181299-1367x885-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/auto_Montcalm_181299-1367x885-1-768x497.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/auto_Montcalm_181299-1367x885-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The sexy little Photo Lab</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-rooms-like">What are the rooms like? </h2>



<p>Modern, slick and <em>very </em>comfy. Muddy stayed on the 12th floor in a Junior Suite Dreams which had stunning city views through floor-to-ceiling windows, particularly at night &#8211; although all 288 rooms are exterior facing with large windows, so there&#8217;s danger of pokey, windowless accommodation here. </p>



<p>If you&#8217;re into gadgets, you&#8217;ll be excited by the automatic curtains, control panels (there are buttons for everything from Do Not Disturb and Bedroom Light to Clean My Room) and Nespresso machine with free Flying Horse Coffee pods. If you&#8217;re more into the comfort side of things, you&#8217;ll rejoice at the fluffy robes (the sofest hotel robes Muddy has ever worn), snuggly bed (so comfy getting out of it is a problem) and rain shower and underfloor heating in the bathroom &#8211; btw everything&#8217;s provided, from toothbrushes to hair conditioner, so you can pack light. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-anything-else">Anything else? </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="679" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Montcalm_East_184943-1367x906-1-1024x679.jpg" alt="Montcalm East spa " class="wp-image-6089" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Montcalm_East_184943-1367x906-1-1024x679.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Montcalm_East_184943-1367x906-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Montcalm_East_184943-1367x906-1-768x509.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/london/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2024/10/Montcalm_East_184943-1367x906-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>There&#8217;s a gorgeous spa in the basement, including a pool, Jacuzzi and a long list of treatments, including bang up-to-date options like an LED face mask or a quartz stone facial. You can even have couples&#8217; treatments or mum-to-be spa days, which isn&#8217;t something you&#8217;d expect to find in the heart of Silicon Roundabout. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-try-it">Try it! </h2>



<p>To find out more about Sunday Light and book the table (until mid-Nov), click <a href="https://montcalmcollection.com/blog/sunday-light-at-montcalm-east-transforming-winter-blues-with-revolutionary-lighting/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here.</a> Marlowe restaurant starters from £14, mains from £18-29. Rooms at Montcalm East available from £220pn. </p>


Review: Sunday Light at the Montcalm East hotel

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