We recently spend the weekend with Red Carnation Hotels in London – looking at four of the chain’s portfolio.
Red Carnation is a privately owned chain of 4 and 5-star boutique hotels. The group have 6 hotels in London, 2 in Dorset, 2 in Co Mayo Ireland, 2 in Guernsey, 4 in South Africa and 1 in Geneva.
Each hotel is very individual and unique. The hotels are all tied together by amazing, award winning, service.
Rubens at the Palace
Our first stop was the 5-star Rubens at the Palace. The hotel is located close to Victoria Station opposite one of the side gates into the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. We were treated to Afternoon Tea, overlooking the Palace – while we were there, we saw the King returning from the Lord Majors Show! The hotel’s main meeting room holds up to 80 theatre style. Then there are 8 further rooms that are ideal for boardrooms from 13 to 20 delegates.
The B Bar is inspired by the flavours of South Africa, and has a couple of spaces that can be hired privately.
The chains exclusive “41” hotel is next door. It provides very high-level accommodation where staff out number guests and each room has the use of a butler. The Rubens, 41 and B Bar offer unique spaces and special bedrooms ideal for a smaller exclusive meeting.
The Milestone Hotel and Residence
The Milestone Hotel and Residence was our next stop. This is another of the chains 5-star hotels close to Kensington Palace. This property has a number of suites and apartments as well as 43 deluxe rooms. The hotel has 3 small meeting/dining spaces. The Windsor Suite holds 30, The Oratory Room holds 8, and the Map Room holds 6. When you book a suite for more than 1 night you are given personalised business cards with your temporary London address. This hotel strives to give guests the home from home experience, and it has the feel of a grand private town house.
Chesterfield Hotel Mayfair
The Chesterfield Hotel Mayfair, was next, a 4-star hotel in the heart of this exclusive area of London. The hotel has 94 guest rooms and a further 14 suites. The restaurant and bar has a conservatory that can be hired privately for up to 40 for dinner. The other 7 meeting rooms range in size from the Royal Suite that holds 120 theatre style to the Salon that seats 6 in a boardroom. We were treated to a drink in the Terrace Bar, where they have a pianist to entertain guests most evenings and an extensive cocktail menu!
Montague on the Gardens
Our final stop was the Montague on the Gardens, a 4-star boutique hotel, close to the British Museum in the Bloomsbury area of London. Here we had a great dinner and very comfortable night’s sleep. The staff here continued with the amazing service and attention to detail. I was made to feel so welcome, even after I had checked out – I used the hotel as a base to leave my luggage while I went out shopping.
The Montague has a number of terraces that overlook the gardens. In the summer they provide staff with a tranquil place to relax in the heart of the capital. In the winter the outdoor spaces are transformed into a ski lodge and log cabin, ideal for celebrating the festive season. The cocktail bar is made up from a series of areas and rooms, some of which can be hired privately.
The hotel has 3 main meeting rooms: Great Russell Suite that holds 120 theatre style; Woburn Suite that holds 20 boardroom style and Bloomsbury Suite that holds 18 boardroom style.
I must admit to being a little bias in my report, I have always loved this chain of hotels. They are all very traditional in style, but that completely fits the buildings they occupy. The service levels have always shone at Red Carnation.
