As in any major city, some luxury hotels are large and grand while others are intimate and homelike. The Lanesborough or the Dorchester stand out as the Grande Dame icons of cosmopolitan London, but a delightful home away from home is The Goring. It offers every luxury and convenience expected of a 5 star hotel along with warmth and some quirky English touches that endear you to the hotel. (Ask any staffer about Baaahhbara. )
On a recent visit to London, I was privileged to call The Goring 'home' and it truly felt like home. The doorman and concierge greeted me by name as I came and went. The living room is comfortable with the fire burning and sofas clustered for easy conversation. The private gardens off the solarium are beautifully kept and complete with fine sculptures and tranquil sitting spaces.
I don't know about you, but when I go to England, I want an English experience through and through. So many hotels these days are updating to a very modern/European look, but I very much appreciate Jeremy Goring's commitment to all things English. He is very proud of The Goring (and rightfully so) and delighted to share it. I was privileged to have dinner with Jeremy during my stay at the Goring and it really made me appreciate the hotel even more. His great-grandfather, OR Goring, opened the hotel on March 1, 1910 and Jeremy counts it a great honor to carry on the traditions and hospitality of his family. (He has quite the resume too.)
The dinning room itself is sophisticated and crisp, but it is still grounded in English heritage. The English Executive Chef Derek Quelch has revived English cooking and has bought back many famous, and sometimes forgotten, English dishes. Eggs Drumkilbo, once a favorite of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, has been revived for all guests to enjoy and the Lobster Omelet is great as is the traditional Sunday roast with potatoes and all the Yorkshire Pudding and trimmings you could imagine.
I hope you will have the chance to call The Goring home sometime – it IS unique among London hotels.
http://www.goringhotel.co.uk/
