Review of the Jimi Hendrix suite at the Cumberland Hotel

Krystina Mitchell takes a tour of the new eye-poppingly kaleidoscopic Jimi Hendrix suite at The Cumberland Hotel in London. Groovy.

Guoman's stylish The Cumberland hotel has a unique place in rock 'n' roll history - it was the last known address of guitar legend Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was a regular guest at the Park Lane hotel during the 1960s and conducted what was to be his last ever interview with music journalist and press agent Keith Altham, in one of the hotel's fifth-floor Suites just days before his untimely death in 1970.

Now, to mark the 40th anniversary of the musician's death on September 18, the creative design-led hotel is launching its own adaptation of Hendrix's style with a Hendrix-inspired Suite paying homage to the legend and his iconic persona. The Cumberland will also host a mini-photography exhibition dedicated to the great man.

The suite is designed to inspire its visitors from the instant they enter; to capture the ethos of Hendrix and ultimately be a sanctuary where Hendrix himself would enjoy spending time. Conceived by interior designer Mary Gannon and her senior associate Cynthia - a stay in The Cumberland's 'Hendrix' suite is not to be missed for any Hendrix fan or design junkie.

Think exquisite statement lighting, flamboyant colours and psychedelic patterns, authentic fabrics discovered in vintage fairs and from specialist collectors. The room showcases an original 60s printed panel called 'Peacock' by Mariji Isola for Marimekko, along with a wall of framed originals of NME covers from the 1960s featuring the rock legend.

The centrepiece of the room is a flaming three-metre Hendrix mural by renowned graphic designer Andie Airfix, whose previous works include designs for Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Airfix drew his inspiration from Hendrix's infamous 'guitar flambé' show finale.

The bittersweet interview with music journalist Keith Altham can be heard in its entirety in the suite and gives a fascinating insight into Hendrix and his frame of mind during his final days. In it he says: 'What I wanted to be basically - this is only hyped up by the visual thing - I wanted to be listened to'.

Altham, who has acted as consultant to The Cumberland during the project remembers 'It was September llth l97O when I conducted the last interview which Jimi was to ever give at The Cumberland Hotel...Jimi had just completed a disappointing performance with the Band of Gipsy's at The Isle of Wight Festival a few days previously but was looking forward with optimism to a reunion with The Experience and Chas Chandler whom he was planning to re-employ as record producer. He tragically died six days later from a lethal cocktail of drugs and alcohol and never made the the appointments with the team who established success and might have saved his life from the dreadful crowd of dealers, hangers on and leeches that surrounded him.'

'I think he would have loved the idea of a special room designed in a style which is harmonised to his music and memory and where others might gain inspiration from his work or simply relax and enjoy the music made by the greatest rock guitarist of all time.'

Suite creator, Chelsea-based interior designer Mary Gannon, a member of the British Interior Design Association, said she has sought to create a space that does justice to Hendrix, with a design reflecting the excitement and exuberance of the 60s, and which also complemented The Cumberland as a contemporary hotel, appearing fresh and inspirational in the modern day. Keith Altham, part of Hendrix's inner circle, maintains that Jimi would have loved the room. Mary explains:

'Hendrix was truly a style icon. We undertook a lot of research on fabrics, colours and shapes from the period, and scoured specialist textile fairs and visited known collectors, all of whom gave us invaluable advice and guidance.'

The Cumberland's expansive lobby will also play host to a couple of limited edition archival photographs of Jimi Hendrix by Barrie Wentzell. Taken in the late 1960s, the documentary style prints show Hendrix looking relaxed, upbeat and himself. The photographs taken by Wentzell, a prolific photo journalist who photographed much of rock's royalty, will take centre-stage in the suitably colourful lobby of the hotel for all guests to admire.

Those looking for an unrivalled Hendrix experience can check into The Cumberland's Hendrix Suite from 20 September 2010.

The hotel is also working in partnership with The Hendrix Foundation, the official not-for-profit organisation set up in honour of the iconic musician to provide deprived children with access to musical instruments or music lessons. Guoman Hotels will support the work of the Foundation by donating a £10 sum from every night's stay in the Suite for the year.

Guoman Hotels are offering one night in the Jimi Hendrix Suite at The Cumberland hotel for £399 per night inc. VAT. The price is based on two people sharing and includes bed, breakfast, bottle of Smokehead Scotch and evening turndown.