Originally Posted by MacMyDay

Good choice. I mentioned around here recently that we used to eat out a lot, but now tend to eat in at The Connaught when we stay, as the quality has improved so much. I highly recommend their steaks, as the quality is incredible. We probably eat there once a week on average now.

Originally Posted by MacMyDay

Yes, I was invited to stay there before it officially opened. I do not want to sound dismissive, but I don't think I'd stay there again. It's not due to them doing anything wrong, it's just not exceptional in my opinion and there are better hotels in London. This could entirely be due to having stayed before the official launch, or just that we didn't spend that much time there. I personally fail to understand the appeal of the Wolseley and the same style of food exists at The Beaumont, which certainly means I wouldn't go eat there again either.

Based on the location, would you rather stay here or pay Ł50/n more to stay literally around the corner at The Connaught? Easy choice for me. However, it does have some nice amenities such as free mini-bar, Apple TV's in every room so you can link up your computer to the TV, and free movies on the TV. Things that don't cost much, but good luck getting them anywhere else in London and I always appreciate that value is being added. Base level rooms are a decent size and if the food is to your liking, it's very reasonably priced and I believe breakfast is included in the base rate. Add this all up, and I suppose it could end up considerably less than staying at The Connaught (it's worth noting that The Connaught are the only London hotel I know, that if you book with FHR you get a continental breakfast; everyone else will just cover breakfast, regardless of the cost).

One thing I really wasn't a fan on is the hotel entrance. You have to walk down an alleyway to get there, and as the hotel does not own it, we found it quite dirty and even though you're in the heart of Mayfair, there's a strange feeling about it being unsafe late at night, due to how poorly lit it is.

Originally Posted by RichardInSF

Glad to hear you had a good experience, submonte.

I have now been here several nights and last night had dinner in their fish place, Kaspar's, to use up the virtuoso F&B credit. Also have had room service breakfast.

There is nothing at all bad about this hotel; at the right price I would stay here again (although not below the junior suite level that I am currently in), but again, it simply is too large and too Fairmont to offer a luxury hotel experience.

It's also too touristy. Drink prices in the bars are insane, even for high-end hotels, and the waiter (Kaspar's didn't appear to have a wine steward) continued to tout only the most expensive wines on the list even when I asked for alternatives. Also, markups on wine appeared to be an egregious 4x retail.

On the plus side, hotel staff are quite good at responding promptly to requests, except for internet support which is sent to a Fairmont team of script-readers in India who are more annoying than helpful.

What continues to be totally missing is any sense of being welcome or of hotel staff being proactive. It also verges on petty fraud to claim I will get certain extra services (some free pressing on check-in, so-called butler service) on their website when the hotel has absolutely no intention of providing them.

I continue to regard the Savoy as a very good upscale, not luxury, hotel.

Originally Posted by Buster

Interesting. I wonder if they've sorted out the entrance at all since. I have a stay booked there in September, and your post is making me rethink this. I like the look of the Beaumont in pictures - I prefer a more contemporary, casual elegance to a hotel rather than a more traditional luxury hotel which might be a little fussier in style, so the Beaumont appealed to me.

Originally Posted by MacMyDay

Yes, I was invited to stay there before it officially opened. I do not want to sound dismissive, but I don't think I'd stay there again. It's not due to them doing anything wrong, it's just not exceptional in my opinion and there are better hotels in London. This could entirely be due to having stayed before the official launch, or just that we didn't spend that much time there. I personally fail to understand the appeal of the Wolseley and the same style of food exists at The Beaumont, which certainly means I wouldn't go eat there again either.

Based on the location, would you rather stay here or pay Ł50/n more to stay literally around the corner at The Connaught? Easy choice for me. However, it does have some nice amenities such as free mini-bar, Apple TV's in every room so you can link up your computer to the TV, and free movies on the TV. Things that don't cost much, but good luck getting them anywhere else in London and I always appreciate that value is being added. Base level rooms are a decent size and if the food is to your liking, it's very reasonably priced and I believe breakfast is included in the base rate. Add this all up, and I suppose it could end up considerably less than staying at The Connaught (it's worth noting that The Connaught are the only London hotel I know, that if you book with FHR you get a continental breakfast; everyone else will just cover breakfast, regardless of the cost).

One thing I really wasn't a fan on is the hotel entrance. You have to walk down an alleyway to get there, and as the hotel does not own it, we found it quite dirty and even though you're in the heart of Mayfair, there's a strange feeling about it being unsafe late at night, due to how poorly lit it is.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

Thanks so much for such a detailed comment - I really appreciate it. Friends have said much the same thing, but I liked the fact it was small, as I am a big Firmdale fan in London.

Originally Posted by Buster

Interesting. I wonder if they've sorted out the entrance at all since. I have a stay booked there in September, and your post is making me rethink this. I like the look of the Beaumont in pictures - I prefer a more contemporary, casual elegance to a hotel rather than a more traditional luxury hotel which might be a little fussier in style, so the Beaumont appealed to me.

Originally Posted by Buster

I also like small hotels. We are bookending our France trip with time in London, and we're staying at the Beaumont at the start and the Haymarket at the end.

Originally Posted by mike_la_jolla

Was the dress code cr*p still enforced?

Originally Posted by LuxuryRogue

Yes, the anti-cr*p dresscode is still enforced at the Savoy and the Ritz, and several others.

Originally Posted by vuittonsofstyle

Has anyone tried The Beaumont yet? http://www.thebeaumont.com/

Originally Posted by FlyerEC

Well , at the Ritz it wasn't OTT or rather it wasn't too bad when we were there last week , but nonetheless all rather pretentious , as well with many of the staff .
Won ' t be back in a hurry & it won't be to stay anyway . Much better options including The Connaught , The Halkin , etc , perhaps even some clubs .
Enjoyed our meal at Espelette , The Connaught , loved the lamb & steak - as suggested by MacMyDay , thanks

Originally Posted by Cheetah_SA

Wow! The décor and furnishings are amazing! If the numerous photographs on the web site are any indication they have certainly nailed a total look with loads of interesting detail - without it looking contrived or fussy in the least.

Very tempting...