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The closest hotel to Buckingham Palace, The Goring has been a firm royal favourite for many many years, since it first opened its doors. Just to clarify what The Goring stands for, in 1990 George Goring accepted an O.B.E. from her Majesty The Queen for “services to the hotel industry”. This was followed by the appointment of a Royal Warrant to the hotel in 2013, making it the only hotel to have been awarded such a recognition for hospitality services.
Location and Decor Set on a quiet, leafy street in the stunning Belgravia, the property is close to Buckingham Palace as well as Knightsbridge and Mayfair, making it perfectly placed for any kind of activity in town. Housed in a beautiful grande building, the last family-owned luxury hotel in London, the 109-years-young Goring has been opened non-stop even through two world wars; the property closed briefly for a renovation in 2015. The decor is subtly luxurious and glamorous in a perfectly classic way, while being sophisticated and contemporary. Absolutely worth a mention is the hand-painted wallpaper gracing the front hall and the ground floor depicting a whimsical scene of exotic animals running free in an English parkland setting with the Goring family’s history woven in for good measure; a dash of idiosyncratic humour so typical of the hotel. Pure wonder.
Rooms All of the 69 rooms and suites are filled with opulent fabrics and furnishing, wonderfully arranged in a colour palette raging from deep blue to pale cream with handmade specially designed furnishing. Yours truly booked a spacious deluxe garden view room with spectacular silk-lined walls, marble bathroom and a delightful view of the garden, one of the largest private gardens in London, perfect to play croquet, have a drink or simply gaze at, as the Queen Mother used to do while having her afternoon tea.
Service Service at the Goring is excellent, discreet, confident, anticipating and beyond kind. The staff will make sure to keep its sophisticated clientele pampered and cosseted at all times. The key members of the staff are long serving and it shows in the symphony-like elegance of their work. Ambience Class, class and more class! While the uber sophisticated Managing Director David Morgan-Hewitt is proud of the fact that everyone receives the same excellent service at the hotel, whether they are on the premises for a cup of coffee or if they are the Queen herself, let’s say you wont see gold pleated cars and sketchy men surrounded by tacky girlfriends, but a refined, international, regular clientele and many ladies and gentlemen from the neighbourhood enjoying a civilised high-tea or a drink. After all this is where Kate Middleton spent the night before becoming the Duchess of Cambridge.
Food The Goring offers stunning yet relaxed dining options that delight locals and guests alike. There is Siren, the new exciting seafood restaurant under the direction of Nathan Outlaw. Overlooking The Goring Garden, the restaurant sits in an ornate pavilion, ensuring that the outdoor and indoor spaces are intrinsically linked throughout the seasons and offers the best of Cornish produce, with simple seafood dishes of understated brilliance. The Dining Room, beautifully elegant holder of a Michelin star and three AA Rosettes under the direction of Executive Chef Richard Galli, sources fresh, high-quality ingredients from suppliers across the British Isles as part of its commitment to serving the finest British food. Designed by David Linley, the hushed space is bathed in natural light by day and sumptuously aglow with grand Swarovski chandeliers at night. Not to be missed is the Afternoon Tea. The Goring has been perfecting its art since opening its doors over a century ago and it shows. Delicious pastries, fruity homemade jams and tea blends of the highest quality delighted me as I complemented the experience with a glass (or 3) of Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne along with the sweetest hand-picked strawberries.
Insider Tips
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