Let me tell you, this month has been amazing for wins! I’ve been entering competitions to win incredible prizes from The Guardian for years, and finally, my luck turned around. I won a night’s stay at the magnificent Grosvenor Hotel in London, a delicious three-course pre-theatre meal, and premium tickets to see Miss Atomic Bomb at St. James Theatre. I’m a big fan of exploring London, and this was a truly luxurious escape right in the city.
A Historic Gem with Modern Touches
The Grosvenor Hotel, built by Victorian railway pioneers in 1862, sits right on top of Victoria Station, making it incredibly convenient for travelers. Stepping into the entrance hall is a breathtaking experience. The soaring ceilings, an awe-inspiring chandelier that made me feel like I was channeling my inner Sia, and beautiful period features create a truly grand ambiance. After undergoing a multi-million pound renovation, the Grosvenor retains its original charm while embracing modern luxury.
Did you know? The Grosvenor was also home to London’s first ever working lift, powered by water!
A Room Fit for Royalty
We were lucky enough to stay in an Executive King Room on the fourth floor – it was absolutely lovely! While not as spacious as the Executive Suite we stayed in at The Kingsley, this room charmed us with its floor-to-ceiling windows, simple yet elegant decor with fun London-themed accents, and a huge, inviting king-size bed. However, I was immediately distracted from the allure of the bed by something even more remarkable…
A Bathroom Straight Out of My Dreams
This bathroom was my actual dream bathroom! It was as big as my bedroom, with stunning black and white tiled decor that looked straight out of a Pinterest board. But the real highlight was the roll-top, free-standing bath. I’ve always dreamt of staying in a hotel with a bath like this, and I immediately crumbled my Comforter bath bomb and sunk into its luxurious embrace.
This bath was not only stunningly beautiful, but it also came equipped with a shower attachment that made it possible to actually wash my hair in the bath, a feat I’ve often struggled with in other hotels. I couldn’t resist using the luxurious complimentary Penhaligon’s toiletries. The shampoo and conditioner left my hair shiny and smelling divine.
An Exclusive Executive Lounge Experience
Feeling completely pampered, I headed to the Executive Lounge, a private haven for guests staying in Executive Rooms. The Lounge itself is a beautifully appointed room with plush seating and chic decor, making it a fantastic spot to work or simply relax. It was peaceful and quiet, with only a couple of other guests enjoying the ambiance. There was even a friendly staff member on hand to greet us and bring us drinks.
Between 5 pm and 9 pm, the Lounge transforms into Happy Hour heaven, offering complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and canapés. Naturally, I indulged in a classic G&T and then explored the mouthwatering selection of canapés. The bruschetta was absolutely divine, and I would have happily devoured the entire platter if I didn’t want to look like a total pig! The cheeseboard and hot snacks like chicken goujons and spring rolls added even more indulgence to this VIP experience.
A Pre-Theatre Dinner That Fell Short
After a relaxing and enjoyable time in the Lounge, Conor arrived just in time for our three-course pre-theatre dinner at The Grosvenor Arms restaurant. Having been so impressed with everything else, I was expecting an equally fantastic dining experience. Unfortunately, this wasn’t quite the case.
We were presented with a limited pre-theatre menu, and the Somerset Brie and Caramelised Onion tart was pretty much the only choice that appealed to me. I love brie and pastry, so I thought I’d enjoy it, right?
Wrong. The pastry was disappointing and reminded me more of Greggs than an upscale hotel restaurant. The onion chutney was just…peculiar, and it didn’t complement the brie at all. The lettuce underneath was limp and soggy. Not a great start to the dinner.
Mixed Reviews on the Mains
I didn’t even bother snapping a picture of my main course, as it wasn’t very visually appealing. But I did admire the presentation of Conor’s Homemade Beefburger, with its open style and newsprint garnish, a trendy but slightly overdone touch nowadays. Despite a slight dryness, Conor said the burger was actually decent.
My Chicken and Chorizo pasta dish with blue cheese sauce was also a mixed bag. While it wasn’t awful, it also wasn’t particularly good. The pasta, tomato sauce, and chorizo tasted like something I could have whipped up at home. The blue cheese ‘sauce’ was simply crumbled blue cheese, which wasn’t my favorite. On the plus side, it was a generous portion, and I couldn’t manage it all, which may have been a blessing in disguise.
Dessert Saves the Day
Thankfully, dessert saved the day! I truly loved The Grosvenor Arms’ Dark Chocolate Tart with Raspberry Romanoff Cream and Crushed Pistachio. The chocolate tart was rich and decadent, though I struggled to finish it, but it tasted incredible. The raspberry in the cream perfectly complemented the dark chocolate. Oh, dessert, you are my bae.
A Perfect End to a Luxurious Stay
After dinner, we headed to St. James Theatre to watch Miss Atomic Bomb (you can read my review here) and then returned to our room, armed with gin in a tin, to enjoy our incredibly comfortable bed while watching Sport Relief on the giant bedroom TV.
After another relaxing soak in the Pinterest-worthy bathtub of my dreams, we went downstairs to The Grosvenor Arms for breakfast. Considering our less-than-impressive dinner experience, we weren’t expecting much, but you can’t really go wrong with breakfast, right?
A Delicious Breakfast Buffet
Thankfully, The Grosvenor Arms redeemed itself with a tasty buffet breakfast that featured a delicious full English, an array of pastries, cereal, cold meats, yoghurts, fruit, and more. The sausage and bacon were both quite good, and I really enjoyed the potato croquettes.
Final Thoughts on The Grosvenor Hotel
The Grosvenor Hotel is a truly lovely place to stay. The bedroom, THAT BATHROOM, and the Executive Lounge all made me feel special and provided a touch of luxury in my usually budget-conscious lifestyle. However, I would recommend avoiding the restaurant, especially the pre-theatre menu, and venturing out to explore the many other fantastic dining options Victoria has to offer.
The Grosvenor Hotel can be found at 101 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 0SJ. For more information and bookings, visit their website here.
Our stay and dinner at The Grosvenor Hotel were complimentary as competition prize winners – with no expectation of review.
