A night in the Duchess of Cambridge's favourite suite at London's Goring Hotel

If you want to feel like royalty, it doesn't get much better than this
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Luke Abrahams1 August 2018

Adored by lords, ladies and top members of the Royal Family, The Goring Hotel was recently named the best city hotel in the entire country by The Hoteliers Hotel Top 100 list.

We checked in to see what all the fuss was about. Spoiler: we weren't disappointed. At all.

Where is it?

At number 15 Beeston Place, on a quiet, leafy and unassuming side street away from London's prying eyes. Impressively, The Goring remains the only hotel in London to hold a royal warrant and unlike other luxury hotels in the capital, is still under the control of its original owners, Jeremy Goring & CO. Royal buff or not, you may also remember that the entire top floor was booked by the Middleton family in the run up to the 2011 royal wedding. ​Heck, the Windsors love it so much that there's even a rumour it's connected to the palace by way of a super secret tunnel.

You can see why they are so enamoured by the place. It's just a few minutes west of Buckingham Palace, moments away from the hustle and bustle of Victoria Station and you can be in the heart of central Belgravia in as little as 15 minutes. The location is also, very, very discreet - an important must if you're one of the regal set.

Style

Stately and elegantly English with a bit of old world charm for added effect. The vibe is frightfully posh, but never does it feel or come across as being overtly pretentious. Naturally, The Goring is quite the contrast to all the modernity that surrounds it - still largely Victorian at heart - and stuck in its own perpetual time warp. The huge private garden out back bursting with flowers, lush shrubbery and a central lawn on which to enjoy a game of croquet, evokes childhood memories of village fetes and dancing around the maypole. If we must put a label on it, traditionalism meets the thrill and thunder of the modern city - successfully, too.

The grand Front Hall at The Goring

Up until its grand restoration in 2011, style had never been The Goring's strong point, though it was, and still is, famous for its self mocking character and humour throughout its decor. Think, rubber ducks in every bathroom and life-sized sheep mascots in the bedrooms etc. To mark its 100th anniversary in 2010, the hotel began an extensive programme of stylish renovations. Five years later, a ravishing Front Hall, decorated with hand-painted wallpaper featuring animals and staff caricatures was revealed. It was such a momentous event, that even the Duchess of Cambridge returned whilst eight months pregnant to give it the royal seal of approval.

Elsewhere, you'll find a rich palette of red, yellows and gold, most notably in The Bar & Lounge designed by Tim Gosling, as well as lots and lots of marble.

Food & Drink

The restaurant at The Goring goes by the name of The Dining Room. Designed by The Queen's nephew the Viscount Linley, it's a light, high-ceilinged and airy space with brilliant white walls crowned by a few extravagant, love-them-or-hate-them, Swarovski blossom chandeliers. Unlike other hotels, there is no piano or live quartet blaring out lyrical blasphemy. In fact there is no entertainment at all, except the gossip and the chatter of your fellow hotel comrades, which if you're lucky, can be very racy.

The Dining Room at The Goring

So what of the food? In 2016, the space was awarded its first Michelin star in recognition of head chef Shay Cooper's imaginative take on using only 'the best' seasonal British produce. Expect everything from beef Wellington (sliced at the table), foie gras pate, saddle of venison, triple-cooked chips and divine house-baked onion bread, luxe puddings and a delicious selection of French wines dished out by a fleet of tux-and-tail waiters.

The infamous lobster omelette, a favourite of the late Queen Mother 

If you simply can't choose, feast on the lobster omelette for the main. My waiter told me it was a firm favourite of the Queen Mother and has been a signature dish on the menu for yonks. It's pretty obvious why. Fat, juicy with generous portions of lobster meat cooked in a rich eggy sauce served with duck fat fried chips and a fresh salad to clean the palette. Who in their right mind would turn their noses up at such a godly offering?

At breakfast (also served in The Dining Room), the hotel offers a traditional English breakfast, along with all the other usual suspects you'd expect to find on the continental side of the foodie spectrum. Afternoon tea (a riot), and a full bar of snacks is also on the cards.

Saddle of Venison at The Dining Room

For drinks, head to the Bar & Lounge for an impressive, and at times intimidating list of champagnes, wines, spirits and cocktails - but in all honesty, it really is all about the champagne. And the nibbles. Oh, the cheesy nibbles!

Facilities

Don't come here expecting to find a grand underground spa or nail and hair salon. Instead, expect world-class service with a bit of cheek and British wit. On arrival, I was whisked to the lounge over what might have been the best glass of champagne I'd had all week (Alaya, just in case you are interested). From then on, I couldn't fault the place. Service was personal, and not overly formal; every footman, bell boy and waiter remembered my name; nothing seemed too much trouble; and a charming Irish bloke called James came to my suite at precisely 5pm to mix me up a stiff Cosmo. Now, if that's not superb service, I don't know what is.

There's also high-speed Wi-Fi, as well as a Fitness Room complete with personal trainer.

Which room?

There are 69 heritage rooms and suites spread over five floors that overlook either Beeston Place or the gardens. Whichever room you decide to take a punt on, know this, they are all glamorous and extremely homely. Elegant sitting rooms (some with full fireplace), silk-swathed walls, sumptuous couches and tall, curtained windows await behind closed doors, along with walk-in shower, flat-screen TV and a raft of either Molton Brown or Apsrey bath products.

The bedrooms are tastefully decked out with glossy wood furniture and antiques courtesy of some of the hottest British designers out there, and features a quirky set of lighting modes: bright, calm, cosy or the very suggestive and sexy "oooh!". King-sized beds are smothered in Egyptian cotton, and come with the signature Goring "Baaa-bara Sheep" stuffed toy perched on the pillow, which you can take home for a price.

The Royal Suite sitting room at The Goring

At the top of hotel lies the Royal Suite where we stayed, a grand little spot which stretches the entire length of the building. It was here the Duchess of Cambridge stayed the night before she married Prince William. Commissioned by owner Jeremy Goring and designed by Russell Sage, the Gainsborough silk-ridden two-bedroom demi palace is unquestionably one of the most prestigious suites in all of London. Throughout, quirky additions, including royal artefacts (birth certificates, invitations and proclamations), vintage books and full military regalia make for a truly unique hotel experience.

The Master Bedroom

Aside from the gorgeous four-poster bed and grand piano room, the star of the show is the main bathroom. Head down the stairs and you'll discover a world of well thought out fantasies: a massive marble-clad bath, his and hers sink complete with skylight and a double shower fitted with with not one, but three shower heads to name a few. The highlight is definitely the full-scale portrait of Queen Victoria who ominously stares at you behind a wall of glass in the shower.

The Royal Suite shower complete with full scale portrait of Queen Victoria

What to Instagram

Yourself posing in your room, of course. If that's not your thing, a flatlay in the restaurant and a cheeky shot of the private dining room facing the Front Hall should suffice.

Best for?

Couples seeking a luxury weekend, families, foodies and Royal Family-obsessives.

Details

Standard rooms from £695 per night. The Royal Suite is priced at £8,000 per night. For other suites, contact the reservations department. 15 Beeston Pl, Westminster, London SW1W 0JW. Visit thegoring.com

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