The Chesterfield Mayfair Hotel ★★★★

The Chesterfield Mayfair comprises of three buildings which had previously accommodated lords and ladies, military majors and their wives, and earls and countesses. Many decades later, it hasn’t changed in grandeur; this was immediately evident from the moment we stepped through the door and into the lobby. A glittering chandelier hung from the ceiling as a centrepiece, an elegant combination with the red curtains that were draped on the windows on one side and with the slick wooden check-in desk that was in front of us. Smart suited staff welcomed us and led us swiftly up to our room.

The room was dripping with British charm; pin-striped bedding evoked the fabrics of Savile Row and there was a mahogany table and a comfortable, leather arm-chair. This was combined with modern necessities; television with international channels, internet and the all important tea and coffee making facilities. The walls were decorated in warm beiges and browns, matching with the similar coloured curtains that hung over the large window. It was all enough to make you want to snuggle up with some warm tea and biscuits. The hotel’s evening services each night gently guided us towards our bed and lulled us to sleep each night; their daily turn down service and soft slippers are the perfect addition to make you feel cosy and relaxed.

The hotel has enough rooms to make you feel like you have stepped in to the Tudor Mansion of Cluedo. Our first visit was to the Butler Restaurant for a Friday evening arrival meal, before our The 39 Steps theatre reservation. The restaurant is delightful; each corner is decorated with light, white flowers contrasting with the deep red-velvet upholstered chairs and light-brown wooden panelling. Thanks to The Chesterfields Pre-Theatre menu we could eat at our own pace without a worry of being late for our theatre date. The food was spot on and the service first class, we could not wait to try the carvery dishes, a good old Sunday roast in a couple of days time, and to take some time to choose the perfect wine to go with our meal with the hotel’s sommelier, but that would have to wait for now.

After an evening of uproarious, side-splitting comedy at The Criterion, my husband and I took a walk around Piccadilly and was mesmerised by its colourful lights. No matter how many times I return back to my home town, it never fails to capture my thoughts, vision and mind. Big red buses circulated around the famous shopping streets that were still buzzing with crowds of people. But for us, tiredness coaxed us back into the hands of The Chesterfield where we enjoyed a delicious late night drink and jazzy, relaxing piano music at the terrace bar before retiring to our room. The interior of the bar could only be described as exemplary, and the elegance carried through to the fine whiskies, wines and cocktails that were on offer. The extensive menu offered so much choice it took my husband and I a long while to choose the drink that would finish our glorious evening!

The next morning we were awakened to a great, hearty English breakfast. Curiously, when pouring some thick, golden honey into my tea, I glanced at the jar and discovered that the hotel had its own beehives. The Chesterfield Bees (all 120,000 of them) make up to 80 lbs of honey a year and help pollinate the many royal parks that lay so close to the hotel. Red Carnation hotels aim to minimise their environmental impact, and this is just one the ways that The Chesterfield completes this aim.

Very fortunately for us the sun had its hat on, so we decided to take full advantage of the kind weather and visit the royal parks that the bees had been visiting; St. James’ Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. We had reserved afternoon tea at The Chesterfield however, so we soon meandered back and into the bright conservatory which looked on to a quaint garden and water fountain. Five minutes into our afternoon sweet feast it wasn’t hard to see why the hotel is a member of The Tea Guild and has won so many awards for its afternoon tea. Although we had not asked for it this time, we spotted others having the themed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory afternoon tea complete with Willy Wonka chocolate bars and gobstoppers. There were also others celebrating with the sparkling Champagne Afternoon Tea.

The rest of our afternoon and evening was spent exploring the classic London trail of Westminster Abbey, Parliament, the London Eye and Embankment, for me the sights could never get old and my husband always enjoys exploring London with a true Londoner herself. Here, the classics shone in impeccable, eternal style but beyond there were reams of new shops, special events, bars, cafes, theatres and restaurants to discover, so even for an old-time resident like me, London is still a discovery...