{"id":119892,"date":"2023-10-11T09:59:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-11T09:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=119892"},"modified":"2023-10-11T09:59:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T09:59:00","slug":"the-inspector-calls-at-londons-two-new-billion-pound-hotels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/travel\/the-inspector-calls-at-londons-two-new-billion-pound-hotels\/","title":{"rendered":"The Inspector calls at London's two new billion-pound hotels"},"content":{"rendered":"
Two new hotels have just opened in London and some \u00a32.5 billion has been lavished on them. So which one is for you?<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve arrived amid much fanfare and considerable astonishment and, although completely different, they hope to attract a similar market, which is to say those who, once you factor in drinks, dinner and perhaps a spa treatment for two, will be handed a bill of about \u00a32,000 for one night\u2019s stay.<\/p>\n
The Peninsula overlooks Hyde Park Corner; Raffles London occupies the Old War Office in Whitehall, opposite Horse Guards Parade.<\/p>\n
THE PENINSULA<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Inspector compares two luxurious new London hotels – The Peninsula and Raffles London. Above is The Peninsula, located where Hyde Park Corner meets Wellington Arch\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Inspector says that views from The Peninsula ‘rule supreme and there\u2019s an abundance of natural light’. Above is a Grand Premier Park Room<\/p>\n Back story: <\/span>A brand new eight-storey project costing \u00a31.1 billion, part of the Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels group (there are 11 other Peninsulas around the world). The board waited 30 years to find a suitable site in London \u2014 and it\u2019s taken eight years to build, with a feng shui master advising on positive energy flow.<\/p>\n First impressions:<\/span> Arrive on foot at the front entrance (cars and taxis are not allowed to stop outside) and you\u2019re greeted by two life-size marble lions. A revolving door spins you into the huge lobby, which doubles as an all-day drinking and eating area, perfect to watch the passing parade.<\/p>\n In the evening, there\u2019s live music coming from the mezzanine balcony (Elton John covers on my visit). Other features include vast pillars; chandeliers, a de Gournay mural; marble floors, but nothing so vulgar as a reception desk (check-in is off the lobby in a discreet corner).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Above is The Lobby at The Peninsula where breakfast is served, plus afternoon tea for \u00a395 per person<\/p>\n Or guests arrive by car (perhaps in one of the hotel\u2019s Rolls-Royces) via a cobbled, off-street courtyard to the rear of the building.<\/p>\n Sleep well: <\/span>There are 190 rooms. Even the cheapest at \u00a31,300 is 50 sq metres. All have exquisite onyx bathrooms with TVs built-in above the taps and floor-to-ceiling windows.<\/p>\n Beg, steal or borrow to have a room facing Hyde Park Corner, with Wellington Arch opposite and Apsley House to your left.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are 190 rooms at The Peninsula. Even the cheapest at \u00a31,300 is 50 sq metres, reveals the Inspector<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Each room at The Peninsula has ‘exquisite onyx bathrooms with TVs built-in above the taps’<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On the top floor of The Peninsula there\u2019s Brooklands (above), which opened last week, overseen by French chef Claude Bosi<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Peninsula’s guests arrive by car (perhaps in one of the hotel\u2019s Rolls-Royces, pictured) via a cobbled, off-street courtyard to the rear of the building<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Inspector is impressed with The Peninsula’s Little Blue bar (pictured). ‘Its list of cocktails brings innovation in a glass,’ he writes<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Doubles at The Peninsula cost from \u00a31,300 (room only)<\/p>\n It\u2019s one of the world\u2019s biggest roundabouts, but you don\u2019t hear a thing (although you can open a side window if you want London to be your soundtrack). It\u2019s a mesmerising view.<\/p>\n Something to eat and drink: <\/span>In addition to The Lobby (where breakfast is served, plus afternoon tea for \u00a395 per person), there are two restaurants.<\/p>\n Canton Blue is Chinese food of the highest order, with decor influenced by the Keying junk trade ships that sailed between Asia and Europe in the mid-19th century. On the top floor there\u2019s Brooklands, which opened last week, overseen by French chef Claude Bosi. There\u2019s an outside terrace for al fresco dining but in the event of inclement weather a table inside is at your disposal. The bar next to motor-themed Brooklands is sensational at night: St Paul\u2019s Cathedral, the Shard, Big Ben et al putting on a show. There\u2019s also a grab-and-go coffee shop designed by the Conran partnership, with funky art.<\/p>\n Romantic liaisons: <\/span>Little Blue beneath Canton Blue, and with its own street entrance, can only seat 20. The bar is constructed from stacks of apothecary drawers and its list of cocktails brings innovation in a glass.<\/p>\n Extra treats: <\/span>The spa, gym and hairdressers are due to open next month in the basement along with a 25-metre pool. Rooms have \u2018valet boxes\u2019 accessible from the corridors. Pop your shoes in the box and they come back polished a few hours later. Oh, and the ballroom lifts are big enough to take a car.<\/p>\n RAFFLES AT THE OWO<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Raffles London occupies the Old War Office in Whitehall, opposite Horse Guards Parade. The historic building is owned by\u00a0Britain\u2019s richest family, the Hindujas\u00a0<\/p>\n Back story:<\/span> Britain\u2019s richest family, the Hindujas, acquired this historic, trapezium building in 2014 and the extraordinary restoration project cost \u00a31.4 billion. Originally completed in 1906, using 26,000 tons of Portland stone, 3,000 tons of York stone and more than 26 million bricks, this is where the likes of Churchill, Haldane, Kitchener and Profumo had offices.<\/p>\n It was after one particular briefing at the Old War Office in June 1940 that Churchill returned to Downing Street and wrote his famous speech about how \u2018we shall not flag nor fail\u2026\u2019 This is the first UK hotel of the Singapore-based Raffles group. And the Princess Royal, no less, cut the ribbon.<\/p>\n First impressions: <\/span>Grand, imperious, iconic. The Grand Hall gives way to the sweeping Brescia marble staircase with richly veined alabaster balusters.<\/p>\n At the top of the first flight, an ornate, 19th-century French clock hangs on the wall \u2014 and it was from here that leading members of the Government used to address senior staff. Look up and there\u2019s a Murano chandelier, commissioned from a company in Venice. Much of the wood panelling and almost all the flooring is original.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Above is\u00a0The Lawrence function space at Raffles London. The Inspector’s first impression of the building? ‘Grand, imperious, iconic,’ he says<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Inspector describes Raffles London as ‘grand, imperious, iconic’. Above is the hotel’s sweeping marble staircase<\/p>\n Sleep well:<\/span> Only 120 rooms and arguably the best of the lot is the Haldane Suite, with a bust of Churchill on the mantelpiece \u2014 but it costs anywhere from \u00a318,000-25,000 a night, depending on the time of year.<\/p>\n Curtains all operate electronically. I could see soldiers on their horses in Horse Guards across the road. The lead-in rate is \u00a31,100 a night, but most rooms will set you back more than \u00a33,500.<\/p>\n Something to eat and drink:<\/span> Eventually there will be nine restaurants and three bars. The slinky Guards Bar is lively \u2014 so we take a seat in the more sedate Drawing Room with its ornate stone fireplace, before moving on to the main restaurant, Mauro Colagreco, named after the famous Argentinian chef who will be chasing Michelin stars there (his restaurant Mirazur in the south of France already has three). Opposite is Saison, which aims to bring the Mediterranean to Whitehall.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Arguably the best of the 120 bedrooms at Raffles London is the Haldane Suite (above), with a bust of Churchill on the mantelpiece<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘The lead-in rate is \u00a31,100 a night, but most rooms will set you back more than \u00a33,500,’ the Inspector says of Raffles London. Above is the\u00a0Granville Suite\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Raffles London houses a\u00a0Guerlain Spa, with a\u00a020-metre pool (pictured) and\u00a0nine treatment rooms<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Above is Saison restaurant at Raffles London, which aims to bring the Mediterranean to Whitehall<\/p>\n Romantic liaisons: <\/span>The Spy Bar (difficult to find in the sub-basement but worth the trek) would have James Bond purring. Above the bar is a carbon side section of an Aston Martin DB5 and martini cocktails seem to be the drink of choice. Only hotel residents are allowed.<\/p>\n Extra treats:<\/span> Heritage tours of the building are complimentary for guests. Or for the more leisurely inclined, there\u2019s a 20-metre pool (which I had to myself before breakfast) in the Guerlain Spa, with nine treatment rooms (90- minute massages cost \u00a3270).<\/p>\n The verdict:<\/span> Raffles clearly wins from a historic perspective and nine restaurants takes some beating, though some guests might find the Gentleman\u2019s Club wood-panelling heavy-going.<\/p>\n The views from The Peninsula rule supreme and there\u2019s an abundance of natural light. But does the Eastern vibe work in the centre of town? I loved them both. London has got lucky.<\/p>\n Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Inspector calls at two new London hotels and says you’ll be spoilt for choice… if you’re happy to pay \u00a31,300 or \u00a31,100 (breakfast not […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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