| The Berkeley | |
|---|---|
 | |
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  Location within Central London | |
| General information | |
| Location | Wilton Place,Knightsbridge,London,England,United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°30′7.2″N0°9′21.96″W / 51.502000°N 0.1561000°W /51.502000; -0.1561000 |
| Opened | 1867; 158 years ago (1867) |
| Owner | Maybourne Hotel Group |
| Website | |
| www.the-berkeley.co.uk | |
The Berkeley is a 5-star hotel, located inWilton Place,Knightsbridge,London. The hotel is owned and managed byMaybourne Hotel Group, which also ownsClaridge's andThe Connaught inMayfair, London.[1]
Located on the corner ofPiccadilly and Berkeley Street, it was the base for drivers ofmail coaches travelling to theWest Country and hence named theGloucestercoffee house. As a result, it started to expand and became a hotel for travellers both to and from London who were travelling on the mail coach services.[2]
With the coming of the railways, in 1897 the building was formally renamedThe Berkeley Hotel, a location trusted by the parents ofdebutantes to keep an eye on the reputation of their daughters.[2]
In 1900,Richard D'Oyly Carte bought the hotel, and his family remained in control for the next century. In the 1920s The Berkeley became one of the first London hotels withair conditioning, and in the 1930sdouble glazing.[2] Ferraro, themaitre d'hotel of the Berkeley Grill, was a fixture of Londonnightlife in the 1920s and 1930s and appears in several novels of the period, such asDennis Wheatley'sThree Inquisitive People, written 1932 but not published till 1940.[3] He also is mentioned inP. G. Wodehouse's 1931 novel,Big Money, some of which takes place at the Berkeley.Ian Stewart became bandleader in 1946.[4]
In 1972, the hotel moved to a new building designed by British architectBrian O'Rorke on Wilton Place, Knightsbridge.[2] Incorporating restored features from the original building, it was also unique in that it was London's only hotel with a rooftopswimming pool until well into the 21st century. The Berkeley's top floor, its seventh, also houses its Bamford Haybarn Spa, which debut in 2013.[5]
In the 1980s,Madame Somoza, had become a frequent customer at the restaurant and evenQueen Elizabeth used to lunch with friends.[6]
In the winter months Health Club & Spa transforms its rooftop terrace into a pine-filled forest cinema. Hotel guests and visitors alike are treated to winter classics on the big screen while nestling between warm down-featherMoncler blankets and hot water bottles.[7]
In 2005, The Savoy Group, including The Berkeley, was sold to a group of Irish investors. The sale of The Savoy Group led to the Savoy Hotel andSavoy Theatre being sold off and the remaining properties, including the Berkeley, being renamed as the Maybourne Hotel Group.[8]
In 1998,Pierre Koffmann moved hisMichelin starred "La Tante Claire" from the area ofChelsea to the hotel, serving his signature dish of pig's trotter stuffed withmorel mushrooms.[2] The original Chelsea site was taken over byGordon Ramsay, who opened the signatureRestaurant Gordon Ramsay there. Replaced at the hotel in 2003 by the Gordon Ramsay-run "Boxwood Café", after its closure Koffmann returned in April 2010 to open the signature "Koffmann's" restaurant at the hotel.[9] Koffmann's at The Berkeley closed on 31 December 2016.[10]
Marcus Wareing headed theMichelin 1 star-rated "Marcus", until it closed permanently on 26 December 2023.
The Collins Room, which has been described as "elegant but unfussy",[11] servesafternoon teas, and, in particular, is home to Prêt-à-Portea cakes and pastries inspired by the latest collections of leading fashion houses.[11] Prêt-à-Portea specialty items change every six months to reflect the changes of seasons; the designer brands they commemorate may include such labels asHermès,Loewe orKenzo. The afternoon tea menus also feature various savoury items, and an extensive tea list.[11]
The Blue Bar was designed byDublin architect David Collins, and is decorated entirely in Lutyens Blue, a colour he created in honour ofEdwin Lutyens.[12] In 2004, an album entitledThe Blue Bar was released through Warner Dance, featuring a mix of ambient techno and electronica regularly played in the bar.[13]
51°30′07″N0°09′22″W / 51.5020°N 0.1561°W /51.5020; -0.1561
