LONDON
HYATT REGENCY LONDON -
THE CHURCHILL
UTTER THE WORD CHURCHILL AND SOME IMMEDIATE CONNOTATIONS SPRING TO MIND : PROFESSIONAL , COMMANDING , RESPECTFUL , BRITISH , ICONIC ; THEN CONSIDER CURRENT ARABIAN TRENDS FOR ULTRA-LUXURIOUS HOSPITALITY , SEAMLESS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MIDDLE EASTERN MENU INFLUENCES . ALL ARE ALSO TRUE OF THIS LUXURY ABODE SITUATED JUST A STONE ’ S THROW FROM LONDON ’ S WEST END .
BY SAMANTHA READY
Interestingly for a namesake offering , Churchill has no direct connections to this architecturally beautiful hotel situated mere steps , but feeling like a million miles , from a bustling Marble Arch ; in fact it was opened in the 70s after his passing . However , in a clever nod to its affluent yet tranquil Marylebone location and distinctly British offering , the bespoke design , refined décor and subtle nods to the former Prime Minister ’ s life and legacy – which extend from artefacts loaned by the Churchill family from his former home , Chartwell House and glimpses to his private affairs from reproduced love letters to his wife Clementine to a distinctly Kentish nod on the à la carte food and cocktail menus , which of course did not go unmissed by our honed Kent eye – add a sense of respected , traditional grandeur to an otherwise contemporary hotel experience .
Arriving to a throng of beautiful people heading to the now renowned outside terrace that forms part of the Churchill Bar & Terrace , which is seasonally festooned to provide either a glorious outdoor suntrap for balmy evening drinks or cosy cocooning apres-ski chalet vibes complete with twinkling fairy lights and soft woollen throws come Christmastime , there were two main first impressions .
The first , its brilliant proposition . Literally minutes from Hyde Park and Oxford Street , directly overlooking Portman Square , the hotel has that unique , soughtafter attraction of being extremely close to the action – Selfridges and Mayfair ’ s acclaimed restaurants are all just minutes away , or if feeling more energetic , you can stroll through Hyde Park to Harrods in about half an hour – yet still peaceful and removed from busy city life .
The second , the incredible staff . With hospitality facing an unprecedented recruitment challenge , the staff are frankly exceptional . From the new bar manager who had arrived from Japan just weeks before to a symphony of front-of-house staff journeying from Morocco to the Far East , they worked like a slick machine welcoming guests to the exclusive hotel which acts as part-pitstop , part-long-stayresidence and offers an array of exclusive facilities such as access to a 24-hour gym , two Regency lounges , a Michelin-starred restaurant , and even a secret key obtainable from reception to access the private , gated , resident-only Portman Square gardens across the street . They were all - from front-of-house to management , chef and bartender - testament to The Churchill ’ s unfaltering approach to customer service and guest experience . Every single one made our experience exciting , enjoyable and memorable .
96 • www . insidekent . co . uk