| The Chancery Rosewood is the talk of hoteliers here in London and I used to visit Finnish-American Eero Saarinen's US Embassy building in the 1990s, on behalf of the Bank of England. We drank in the basement bar with Embassy staff & US Marines would come to tell you when it was time to leave. I have visited the TWA Hotel at JFK, Eero Saarinen was also the architect for this, and was stunned by that magnificent building. There is an August 2022 post about that. Bentley Perfection As soon as I saw the long wheelbase Bentley waiting in the Barbican to collect me, I knew I was in for a very special stay. Talking to driver Andrei on the journey confirmed this. A Very Happy Welcome from Familiar Faces I was welcomed to the 144 suite David Chipperfield redesigned The Chancery Rosewood at 24 - 31 Grosvenor Square by Nicole & Conor, who I knew from Pan Pacific, London, and my Butler Lidia. The grand ceremonial staircase, and hotel lobby, are very impressive. Checked-in in my Stunning Suite Butler Lidia undertook an in suite check-in, while pouring me a glass of Pol Roger champagne. Does life get much better than that. There was a special cocktail for Issy too, as well as a vest made for him out of the green patterned fabric the hotel's pyjamas (which cost US$1,100) are made from. The pattern includes an eagle motif and an 18 Century map of Grosvenor Square. The Weekend Financial Times & New York Times were all waiting for me. My initials were not just on the pillow but on the suite key card and a bathroom towel too. Loved the smell of the 'Never Go Alone' bath products in my huge marble bathroom and the fact they were made in Somerset. GSQ: A Delicatessen with Outside Seating Overlooking Grosvenor Square Lunch was a Reuben sandwich sitting outside in the hotel's delicatessen GSQ. Delicious but difficult to eat in a dignified manner. The dressing on the side salad was mouth-wateringly good. |     |
| A Tour from Knowledgable Art Concierge Elisabeth (the FT incorrectly spelt her name Elizabeth that weekend) Antonsen I thoroughly enjoyed my tour of some of the 700 pieces of art the hotel is full of, 200 of them were specially commissioned for the hotel. The hotel's vast atrium is a great place to display many of these. We saw an early David Hockney; a Tracey Emin created for the Rio World Cup; various pieces featuring Oscar Wilde, who lived in for a year in the building that is now The Biltmore, Mayfair in Grosvenor Square - the one I liked best was by Hormazd Narielwalla, who I have 45 Park Lane mugs by. I am going to his book launch on Saville Row next week; art depicting the Kennedy family (Joseph P Kennedy, father of JFK, was US Ambassador, when the US Embassy was at 1 Grosvenor Square) & an enormous bronze bonsai tree. There is a photo of Elisabeth by that. We finished back at Elisabeth's desk with another glass of Pol Roger champagne. A Swim in Their Perfect Subterranean Pool Their pool was a perfect temperature and I wish every hotel pool was as thoughtfully designed, with shallow steps and a handrail. The Eagle Has Landed: Brilliant Bar Manager Daniel In the 7th floor Eagle Bar I was given the best table on the outside terrace, right under the gilded eagle, made from parts of B-52 bombers, looking out over Grosvenor Square, & a glass of Pol Roger champagne (spotting a pattern?!). Despite the bar being very busy, Bar Manager Daniel kept me company and perfectly executed my 'SF Martini'. David Chipperfield Architects also redesigned Qatar's former Ministry of Interior building to become The Ned, Doha and Lionel, who created the 'SF Martini' at The Lana, Dubai, worked at the bar there. Food from the Gods in 'Serra' & More Faces from the Past It was apt that I started with heavenly Irish oysters in 'Serra' as Jack, who I knew from 45 Park Lane, poured my Pol Roger champagne. For my main course I had decadent Rigatoni Alla Zozonna - smoked beef sausage, luscious San Marzano ragout, egg yolk, Parmesan & black pepper. Such tasty rich flavours. I must eat that dish again. I finish with a lemon sorbet so intensely tart it was the perfect way to end a spectacular dinner. Waking on US Labor Day in the Former US Embassy in London The chocolates left by my Emperor size bed were delectable and I got such a good night sleep, after all that pasta. No noises in the night. Hotel Legend MD Michael Bonsor MD Michael Bonsor kindly made the time to have coffee with me in my impressive suite, with guest bathroom. With his background at Four Seasons in Manhattan & Toronto and Claridge's, we have lots of mutual contacts and my late Scottish father means I enjoy listening to Michael's Scottish accent. A Breakfast Fit for a King After this, I had breakfast in my suite and you will see from the photo that it was substantial. It was also flawless, with a ginger shot that perfectly burnt my lips. Had to Swim Again & Got Back to My Suite to a Very Nice Surprise The swim was just as good on the second day and I got back to the suite to a fresh bottle of Pol Roger champagne. They really were spoiling me. I ordered a room service cheeseburger for lunch. This has to be done in any luxury hotel and was superb. Relentlessly Cheerful Butler Lidia Butler Lidia served all my meals in the suite at the dining room table. I have never had a hotel be so insistent to go to all this trouble and she was disappointed not to help with my packing. She clearly has a very bright future in the hotel industry. Saying Goodbye is Never Easy Lidia even had a hotel branded candle, as a parting gift for me. Bentley Travel Again I was taken back to The Barbican in another one of the hotel's long wheelbase Bentleys. Divine. Andrei said he wishes I was in the Bentley longer, with all my hotel stories and enthusiasm for the hospitality industry. I have my mum's Welsh chatty genes & love meeting new people. The Chancery Rosewood rates an '8 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) score. This is unprecedented for a hotel so new. There were minor teething problems, with the lifts & key cards, but the highly experienced staff more than made up for these. Must thank Callum in MD Michael Bonsor's Office (another former Pan Pacific, London guy) who made all the arrangements for my stay without a single hitch and put up with all my emails. MD Micheal Bonsor & his team, as well as Qatari Diar, should be so proud of all they have achieved. Tips: if you get a take-out sandwich from GSQ, accept their offer to toast it, & take Elisabeth's Art Tour. |                                         |
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