An elegant building located in the middle of Mayfair, Claridge’s commands an impressive clientele list and a history spanning more than two hundred years. Often referred to as the annex to Buckingham Palace, Claridge’s is one of the most luxurious and prestigious hotels in London. Whilst there are many wonderful hotels in London, there are few that can compete with Claridge’s opulence and history.
“Claridge’s commands an impressive clientele list and a history spanning more than two hundred years”
All grand hotels have grand guests but Claridge’s has always catered for the especially important guest. A byword for discreet luxury it was the London home for the war exhausted Winston and Clementine Churchill in 1945 after Labour’s landslide election win. It was where the crowned heads of Europe including the kings of Norway, Holland and Greece arrived after they were deposed by revolution and war in the 1930s and 1940s.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh often dine at the hotel and chose Claridge’s as the venue for their ruby wedding anniversary party and it was the location for Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding reception. For Hollywood stars it became a must-stay destination, some famous guests include Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Mick Jagger, Bono and Lady Gaga. High-profile friendships were struck up in the bar, in the cloakroom and the dining room.
Claridge’s exists partly thanks to King George the fourth who needed somewhere to entertain. Founded in 1813 the future King George encouraged a friend James Mivart to open some high class lodgings, the original hotel at 49 Brook Street Mayfair was much smaller and modest compared to the Claridge’s we know of today. Mivart had remarkable connections, after the fallout from the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, he entertained royal guests.
“The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh often dine at the hotel... it was the location for Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding reception.”
By 1853 Mivart expanded the guest house, buying four adjacent houses before selling to husband and wife William and Marianne Claridge who owned the houses that ran to the corner of Davies Street. Claridge’s customer service kept the buildings full of Kings, Queens, Arch Dukes and Duchesses. After the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840, London became a haven for the world’s royalty and many came to Claridge’s, so much so that the hotel became known as the “Royal Hostelry” and the annex to Buckingham Palace, a reputation which it never really lost.
Richard D’Oyly Carte, the Savoy’s owner bought Claridge’s in 1894, starting a new chapter. The hotel has spent much of the last two hundred years or so constantly changing. The main body of the building we see today is from the final years of the reign of Queen Victoria, it was in 1898 that the modern hotel was born with two hundred new suites.
The dramatic entrance hall that we see today is an art deco add on from the 1930’s. Oswald Milne built a whole new extension to the hotel which is where all of the art deco details in the hotel today comes from. At that time, Claridge’s was so fashionable, F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda used to stay at the hotel.
It’s hard to explain the charm that Claridge’s holds. Whenever I step inside the hotel it feels as though I am transported back to another era. The afternoon tea at Claridge’s has been served in The Foyer and Reading Room for over one hundred and fifty years and it is not only exquisitely traditional but one of the most delicious afternoon teas I’ve experienced. If you’re lucky the staff will direct you to Audrey Hepburn’s corner table.
“The afternoon tea at Claridge’s... is not only exquisitely traditional but one of the most delicious afternoon teas I’ve experienced.”
The Fumoir cocktail bar has a stunning interior with art deco motifs of brushed steel and Lalique crystal, it is where guests used to smoke whilst drinking fashionable, bespoke cocktails. Whilst I don’t drink it is has been the location of many interesting evenings and celebrations. It always makes me feel as though I am sitting in a location for a stylish Agatha Christie or F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Claridge’s tagline states that it “creates memories that stay with you forever”, they couldn’t be more correct - I encourage you to experience it for yourself.
You can find out more about Claridge’s by visiting at Brook Street, Mayfair or at https://www.claridges.co.uk/
Photography courtesy of The Maybourne Hotel Group
