Suites by David Beckham at The Londoner

Macau is a wonderful anomaly – a historic Portuguese town with cobbled streets nestled between casinos that would make Las Vegas blush, all grafted into the fabric of ultra-modern China. Into this city of dreams, on a prime position on the Cotai Strip, lies another surprise – an immersive slice of Britishness in the form of Sands China’s $2 billion-dollar The Londoner Macau.

At the heart of this development is the all-suites Londoner Hotel, the most exclusive of which are the 14 invitation-only Suites by David Beckham. That’s right – you can’t book them – it’s for the staff to decide if you make the cut.

The concept behind the suites is that Beckham – a long-standing Sands brand ambassador – designed them around his lifestyle, tastes, and the level of comfort he would look for when travelling. To turn these plans into reality, Beckham and Sands turned to David Collins Studio.

Distilling the essence of a global mega-celebrity’s brand into a cohesive and compelling interior design palette is not straightforward. Yet the partnership, forged through numerous meetings in London between the studio and Beckham, worked exceptionally well. “David Beckham was the perfect collaborator,” says Simon Rawlins, chief creative officer of David Collins Studio. “He knew his parameters and was clear and succinct in communicating what he was looking for.”

The studio established a colour palette based on Beckham’s love of navy blue and British racing green. This was followed by developing the design grammar that would underpin the suites. “It was vital for us to get inside his world so that we could understand it and manifest it throughout the rooms,” says Rawlings. “His appreciation of British brands and tailoring was a huge asset. And his knowledge of British craftsmanship is exceptional.”

Beckham’s central vision was to create an elevated home-away-from-home – somewhere that would feel familiar to him, project a certain Britishness, and create memories for the guests staying there by offering glimpses into his own life and family. This would inform all aspects of the project, from the texture and materiality to the design and art.

On arrival, guests are met by a lacquered front door with a brass door knocker that would not look out of place in a Chelsea townhouse. On entering, it soon becomes evident that this is a Beckham family affair. A photograph of his wife, Victoria, taken by their son Brooklyn, hangs above the sofa, while artworks by Peter Thomas Blake – a Beckham favourite – add a seasoning of colour to the leading notes of blue and dove grey.

Throughout the suites, the use of dark navy creates an enveloping elegance. Lacquered wall panels in high-gloss navy zone the dining and living areas. Inlaid with Art Deco gold motifs, they lend a robustness that adds definition and edge. A unifying navy thread is weaved throughout, tying together disparate layers – the blue glass of the chandelier, the navy velvet of the sofa, the rug borders and the cushions.

Traditional British fabrics such as houndstooth, Prince of Wales check and pinstripe are layered in, adding depth. “David took a close interest in the furniture and fabric selections throughout our frequent interactions,” says Rawlings. “And David loves George Smith armchairs, so we made sure to include these.” In the dining area, a round table – easily large enough to sit eight – stands on a hand-crafted grey and navy rug; above it is a chandelier with a 1970s Gaetano Sciolari-style profile, injecting some vintage attitude into the contemporary space.

The dark-wood parquet flooring of the reception areas gives way to black and white marble floors – and a nice touch is the inlaid hexagonal motif – a subtle recall to Beckham’s former career and the geometric patterns of a football. The passageway leads into the master suite, with an exceptionally pretty bathroom continuing the Art Deco seam, manifested through the scalloped grooves of the round grey marble bath, the kinetic mirror array in the bath alcove, and the wall scones. The bedroom itself – as with all 14 of the suites – is an oasis within an oasis. Silk wall panels, leather headboards, brass fittings and textured cushions project a richly layered top-floor sensibility. “The bedrooms are calm, luxurious and individual,” agrees Rawlings. “Each one sports unexpected moments of whimsy, character and charm, warmth and comfort, with hints of glamour to capture the heart of the London homestead.” And while the bedrooms lean into a more delicate colour palette and whimsical aesthetic, abstract modernist artworks – some by Peter Thomas Blake – add dashes of vibrancy.

There are also moments of playfulness. A large dressing room contains a vast mirror and a leather barber’s chair – a knowing nod to Beckham’s style-icon status. Most playful of all, a secret whisky bar is hidden behind a disguised door in the largest of the suites. The speakeasy is inspired by two of London’s most iconic bars – the Connaught bar and Claridge’s bar – both designed by David Collins Studio. The bar’s inclusion is an Easter egg that has sparked much press coverage, and it’s an ingenious touch.

Taken as a whole, the feel of the Suites by David Beckham is of a lateral city apartment rather than a hotel suite. And they are substantial – the 14 suites take up the top two floors of The Londoner, and each is between 1,216 and 3,208 square feet. David Collins Studio has charted a careful course between honouring brand Beckham and the vision he brought to the project while also delivering on the exigencies of a modern hotel – where the aesthetics need to be flawless while accommodating operational demands.

Importantly, while Beckham touches are found throughout, from the monogrammed dressing gowns to the branded coasters and cushions, they have been enacted with the utmost care: the Beckham brand is present as a layer, not a theme. And when we do see Beckham himself, the images are curated so as to contribute to the elevated aesthetic: a large monochrome art print of Beckham adds a certain glamour and edge, while elsewhere, we see a younger Beckham from LA Galaxy days, pictured with his sons. It’s all done artfully and carefully, and it’s no surprise that the suites were named the International Hotel and Property Awards’ Best Hotel Suite in Asia Pacific 2021.

As for Beckham, he says: “I was thrilled to have the opportunity to create the suites with luxury and comfort as a priority as well as to collaborate with such incredible teams. It has been a great project to work on and something I feel very proud of.”