This month has been a lucky one for me! After years of entering competitions, I finally won a fabulous prize from The Guardian: a night’s stay at the grand Grosvenor Hotel in London, complete with a pre-theatre three-course meal and premium tickets to see “Miss Atomic Bomb” at St. James Theatre. I love exploring my city, and this was an opportunity to experience a luxurious staycation I couldn’t refuse!
A Step Back in Time with Modern Comfort
Built by the Victorian railway pioneers in 1862, the four-star Grosvenor Hotel is perfectly situated right on top of Victoria Station, making it incredibly convenient for travellers. As soon as you walk through the grand entrance hall, you’re transported to another era, with high ceilings, a stunning chandelier that had me feeling like a pop star, and beautiful period features. The hotel has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment, maintaining its original grandeur while adding a touch of modern luxury. Did you know this hotel was also home to London’s first ever working lift, powered by water?
A Dreamy Bathroom and a VIP Lounge
Our Executive King Room on the fourth floor was absolutely delightful. While not as large as our Executive Suite at The Kingsley, I loved the floor to ceiling windows, the simple decor with fun London-themed touches, and the huge king-size bed. However, my eyes were immediately drawn to the bathroom of my dreams just across the hallway. It was as big as my bedroom, with elegant black and white tiled decor that would look right at home on Pinterest. And then there was the bathtub! My heart skipped a beat when I saw the beautiful, free-standing roll-top bathtub. I couldn’t wait to sink in with my favorite Comforter bath bomb.
This bathroom was truly luxurious! It wasn’t just the stunning bathtub. The shower attachment allowed me to wash my hair in the bath without any fuss. And the complimentary Penhaligon’s toiletries were divine! The shampoo and conditioner left my hair feeling incredibly clean and smelling amazing.
Feeling utterly pampered, I headed to the Executive Lounge exclusively for those staying in Executive Rooms. The lounge itself is a beautiful space, with plush seating, a stylish decor and a wonderful atmosphere for working or relaxing. It was quiet when I arrived, with only a few other guests. There’s even a friendly member of staff on hand to greet you and offer drinks.
Between 5 pm and 9 pm, it’s Happy Hour! The best part? Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and canapes. Of course, I opted for a refreshing gin and tonic, and then indulged in a delicious selection of canapes. The bruschetta was divine, and I could have easily eaten the whole platter! There was also a cheeseboard and some hot snacks like chicken goujons and spring rolls. I truly felt like a VIP.
A Disappointing Dinner Experience
After enjoying some time in the lounge, Conor arrived just in time for our pre-theatre dinner at The Grosvenor Arms restaurant. With the whole experience so far being pretty awe-inspiring, I was expecting a top-notch dinner to match.
Unfortunately, the dinner was a bit of a disappointment. We were presented with a limited pre-theatre menu and our only choice was the Somerset Brie and Caramelized Onion tart. While I like brie and pastry, the tart wasn’t impressive. The pastry was more reminiscent of a budget bakery than an upmarket hotel restaurant, and the onion chutney had a peculiar taste. It didn’t complement the brie at all, and the leaves underneath it were wilted and soggy. Not a good start!
My main course, a Chicken and Chorizo pasta dish with blue cheese sauce, wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t good either. The pasta, tomato sauce, and chorizo all tasted like something I could have made at home. The blue cheese “sauce” was just crumbled blue cheese, which I wasn’t a big fan of. On the positive side, it was a filling portion, and I couldn’t manage to finish it all.
Sweet Redemption and a Delicious Breakfast
Thankfully, dessert saved the day! The Grosvenor Arms’ Dark Chocolate Tart with Raspberry Romanoff Cream and Crushed Pistachio was absolutely delicious. The chocolate tart itself was wonderfully rich, and I struggled to finish it, but every bite was heavenly. The raspberry in the cream complemented the dark chocolate perfectly. Oh, dessert, you are my bae!
After our evening at the theatre, we returned to our room, enjoying a gin and tonic and watching Sport Relief on the huge bedroom TV. We then enjoyed another relaxing soak in the Pinterest-worthy bathtub before heading downstairs for breakfast.
After our less-than-impressive dinner experience, we didn’t have high hopes for breakfast. But how wrong can you be about breakfast, right?
The Grosvenor Arms redeemed itself with a delicious buffet of cooked Full English, an array of pastries, cereal, cold meats, yoghurts, fruit, and more. The sausage and bacon were both excellent, and I especially loved the potato croquettes.
A Luxurious Stay with a Caveat
The Grosvenor Hotel is a beautiful place to stay. The bedroom, THAT BATHROOM, and the Executive Lounge all made me feel special and offered a touch of luxury in my usually budget-conscious lifestyle. However, I would recommend skipping the restaurant, especially the pre-theatre menu, and exploring the many other delicious restaurants that Victoria has to offer.
The Grosvenor Hotel is located at 101 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0SJ. For more information and bookings, visit their website.
Our stay and dinner at The Grosvenor Hotel were complimentary as competition prize winners. There was no expectation of a review.
