This month I took a special little weekend trip down to London that was luxury all the way – well, mostly anyway. My break consisted of two lovely celebratory meals to mark a special birthday for me - I’m not going to tell you how old I am, so you’ll have to guess! And, best of all, I didn’t have to pay for either of the meals because they were both very generous gifts.
So, my first trip was to the famous five-star Savoy Hotel which is located on the North bank of the River Thames and right in the heart of London. The hotel is named after Count Peter of Savoy and was opened in 1889 as the first purpose-built deluxe hotel in London. The Savoy is part of the Canadian Fairmont group and has 267 rooms, some of which have butler service. There is also a swimming pool, a 24-hour gym, a sauna, and a steam room. I didn’t stay in the hotel, but rooms start at around £700 or more per night if you fancy adding a little extra luxury to your trip!
My meal was booked in the Savoy Grill which is one of Gordon Ramsey’s restaurants. I had the Beef Wellington Experience which consisted of a set 3-course set meal with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. The set meal costs £190 and is bookable for a minimum of two people. It is worth noting that this cost does not include a service charge, so you are presented with a bill for this after your meal, along with any additional drinks you may have ordered. I was given the service charge as part of my gift, so it is worth remembering about this charge if you decide to treat yourself or someone else.
The meal started with a beautiful signature fish souffle in a parsley sauce and was accompanied by bread and butter which was replenished. Then came the star of the show: the Beef Wellington that was accompanied by mashed potato, broccoli, and a red wine dew – you could also choose how well you wanted the beef cooked. The final course was a type of chocolate praline cup with a yogurt ice cream. The whole meal was beautiful and well presented. There was also just enough food to fill you up without you feeling over full. The staff was friendly and attentive, so all great and top marks awarded!
Most people were fairly well dressed in the restaurant, but shirts and ties were not compulsory as they are in the Ritz. I spent around a couple of hours in the restaurant and felt like I could relax and enjoy the experience. There was a BAFTA party going on, upstairs in the hotel, too, during the evening and lots of paparazzi were loitering around in the foyer – I only managed to get a glimpse of one famous person! I then had to take a trip to the toilets – yes, no trip like this can be complete without a look around the toilets, and they were indeed on another level with your own personal hand towel and three rooms available, including an impressive powder room.
I felt reluctant to leave the hotel at the end of the evening, but at least it had been a really enjoyable experience. It was then sadly time to head back to my hotel before setting out again the following day for my afternoon tea at the Ritz…
