A rare wine cellar, ancient horse stables and suites on the mews.
All rather intriguing, I’d say
Just a stone’s throw from Buckingham Palace on a hidden cul-de-sac in one of London’s most coveted neighbourhoods, The Stafford Hotel is a bastion of all that’s right about traditional British hospitality, without the stuffiness.
It’s run with impeccable taste and attention to detail by general manager Christine Hodder. She’s a veteran hotelier who has recently returned to the UK after an extended stint in Asia. Among other things, she intends to bring a fresh, modern-day twist to the décor and amenities for the property’s offshore owners. But, fear not, methinks the period antiques, open fireplace and beautiful grandfather clock in the lobby won’t be going anywhere. Neither will the butlers or notably top-notch concierge service.
My favourite things…
In the dining room, the fine silverware is trumped only by the fabulous florals (Hodder’s special touch). White linens are beautifully crisp and the wait staff, while formally trained, are pleasantly approachable.
In the morning, over English breakfast tea, a hearty bowl of oatmeal and a door-stop of an English muffin (which Hodder has noted and will talk to the chef about “lightening up”), I’m given the inside scoop. Any day now, the team will be starting some grand refurbishments to the stables and main-house rooms, to bring them up to par with the fabulous mews suites where I’m blessed to be in residence.
Suite surrender
The Mews at the Stafford is a separate building sited immediately behind the hotel on a cobblestone alleyway, across from the landmark stables. Added in the past few years, the suites boast bright
sitting rooms, sizable bedrooms and marble ensuite bathrooms, with comfortable modern furnishings and amenities. It seems I’ve found the ideal home away from home in the heart of London.
Here, one can step away, at leisure, from the big-city hustle and bustle to be taken care of, or entertain. Mews room service is first rate (hot chocolate at midnight!) and, if I choose, I can even request personalized station-
ary for my correspondence.
History abounds
After breakfast with Hodder, the French hotel engineer who has been brought onboard to help lead the upgrade project takes me below the stately dining room to the hotel’s secret wine cellar, a fascinating throwback to the 17th century.
A hush-hush venue for a private wine tasting with master sommelier Gino Nardella or a celebratory dinner for 20, the 8,000-bottle, 370-year-old cellar is one of The Stafford’s crown jewels. Alongside its collection of rare and precious wines sit vintage cognacs, Armagnac, ports and single-malt whiskies. And, for the historians among us, there’s an informal museum of artifacts that were left behind during times of war.
Another gem, the legendary American Bar, is decorated floor to ceiling with model fighter planes, pictures of servicemen, club ties, baseball hats and all manner of international memorabilia. Rumor has it, this was the only bar Churchill allowed to remain open during World War II because it was within walking distance for him.
Reserve ahead—the local gentry and regulars have made the American Bar their own for casual mid-week and weekend dinner and drinks. Even the royals have been known to pop in on a quiet evening.
Photos: The Stafford Hotel
