THE best hotel and restaurant EVER!

As I continue my journey through London with lastminute.com, there is one theme that seems underlie everything that goes on… FOOD.  Now, I can’t think of anywhere that would encapsulate this anymore that the wonderful Seven Park Place restaurant at the even wonderfuller (I know that is not a proper word) St James’s Hotel and Club. Now, I could talk about the hotel until the cows go home (if anyone knows what this means there is a prize waiting (answers on a postcard to the usual address (in your face Danzibar, I managed a triple bracket!)))

In fact, I think I will talk a little bit about it; the hotel is a luxury 5*, 60 room central London townhouse that reopened in the autumn of 2008 after an extensive two year renovation programme.  To say that it is in absolutely the perfect location, is a massive understatement. Literally 2 minutes walk to Piccadilly and ever so slightly more to St James Park (which dear readers, is coincidently my favourite of the Royal Parks), yet it is exclusively set down a beautiful cul-de-sac meaning you miss out on any noise that surrounds London! One thing I will point out that struck me as I walked around was the size of the beds… think Princess and the Pea and I will say no more!

Anyways, I digress, back to the food! The star attraction is Seven Park Place, overseen by the amazing Michelin Starred chef, William Drabble. William’s dishes are modern-French in style but made up of primarily British ingredients and they are to die for.  The food though is only one aspect of that perfect dining experience that everyone looks for and at Seven Park Place, you can not help but be impressed by the interiors and ambience. Created by Tony Filmer, the interior is designed to complement the age and elegance of the 1920’s architecture, it really does breathe exclusivity.

There is one last thing that I have to mention and that is the selection of wines that are available. During the refurbishment the hotel discovered what they have now turned into one of the most impressive wine cellars I have ever seen. There truly is something to suit everyone’s tastes and almost everyone’s budget, in fact, there is 18 pages of Wines, Champagnes and Ports. And, if you are like me and want to know what the most expensive wine is, well… you will just have to eat there to find out.

the london summer has landed

The summer has landed people, it’s here, it’s in London, and it’s great. Our office is based near St James’s Park so am often walking through there to see some of our London hotels. I strolled through there this very afternoon on my way to St James’s Hotel & Club, and there were shiny happy people everywhere, picnicking, ice-creaming, hobnobbing (what? I said hobnobbing), and of course my envy rose when I saw several couples splashing around the old vino (with their tesco value triple sarnies) – who are these people I thought, don’t they have jobs? I cannot recall going to the park on a summer’s day without a care in the world, cracking open a fabbo rioja, and just kicking back (am gonna do it tomorrow, who’s with me?). Am a jealous really, oh how I long for the bohemian life of writing poetry and sleeping on the corner of Jermyn Street, begging for a thrupenny piece for my supper squire…. (sorry, I was imagining the effects of the Rioja, the sun, the hobnobbing….).