The lobby of The
Savoy Hotel, London
by Sandra
Hembery
It is one of the world's most
luxurious hotels - and it's just gone into five-star
overdrive.
After nearly three years of
refurbishment, the Savoy Hotel on The Strand in London reopened
last year, following a budget-blowing £220m facelift.
Now it's the epitome of
understated elegance, and a one-stop shop for the West End,
Michelin-starred restaurants and London's iconic
landmarks.
But check in to the plush,
268-bedroom hotel, with its butlers, Edwardian and Art Deco
grandeur and mahogany panelling, and you may just never leave your
room.
A river view deluxe
room
We arrived to be subtly greeted
in the sumptuous lobby, before we were whisked to our room - or
should I say suite - as we found we had been upgraded to a suite
complete with BUTLER!
The views from the bedroom
window were simply magnificent - from the House of Commons, to the
London Eye and the Gherkin, it was almost a checklist of
breath-stopping London landmarks.
Then we simply had to settle in
to the good life - from the underheated flooring, to the sitting
area and desk to the customised headed notepaper, it was bliss in a
blanket!
As we reluctantly peeled
ourselves from our room, it was time to eat - and it just had to be
the Savoy Grill.
The legendary Art Deco restaurant, favoured by the likes of
Oscar Wilde, Sir Winston Churchill and even the Queen Mother, it
serves up cooked-to-perfection dishes such as Chateaubriand with
pommes soufflés, king crab and prawn cocktail and iced peach
Melba.
Why not finish off a perfect
evening with a trip to the theatre?
With the entire West End on your
doorstep, your heaving stomach will be pleased to know if only has
to haul itself - via attentive door staff - next door to the
legendary Savoy Theatre.
A fantastic musical will add
even more sparkle to a brilliant London stay - and the Savoy Grill
staff will even let you return for your dessert after the
show.
All in all, the Savoy experience
is one of unadulterated luxury - a break away from the daily grind
of deadlines, laundry and nappy changing: where the only double dip
is deciding whether to indulge in a second pud.
It doesn't offer Premier Inn
prices, but then it's definitely not a Premier Inn! For those
considering a get-away-from-it-all stay in pure extravagance,
well... it's The Savoy!
Factfile
Savoy room rates:
Prices vary, but a standard room
in June can cost £625 pppn, rising to £1,055 pppn for a riverview
deluxe room, or for sheer luxury, £3,130 for a riverview
suite.
With an offer, tickets to
Legally Blonde at the Savoy Theatre can cost £28.
Three courses from the Savoy
Grill's weekend menu costs £32.
Contact: The Savoy, Strand,
London, WC2R OEU. Tel 020 7836 4343. Web: www.fairmont.com/savoy