Having been closed for an 18-month, £80 million refurbishment, devotees of The Lanesborough – one of London’s most decadent hotels – were awaiting its reopening with well-warranted bated breath. And they certainly weren’t disappointed. Luxurious and opulent to a fault, the building has been made to feel like the lavish manor house at the centre of a country estate, dripping with hand-cut marble and Regency-style furnishings, each room different and filled with cleverly hidden state-of-the-art electronics – plus, of course, your very own butler on call 24 hours a day, and stunning views across Hyde Park or Piccadilly.
The new décor was designed by the late Alberto Pinto, with the smallest detail often the work of countless craftspeople, while the sumptuous Library Bar is a treasure trove of stories (ask about the night Stevie Wonder gave an impromptu piano performance), and the restaurant – Céleste – provides the perfect place to unwind in richly furnished surrounds over dishes created by chef patron Eric Frechon, Paris’ most esteemed three Michelin-star chef. We can’t recommend it highly enough.
Glug & Chew 