Introduction: The Renaissance St
Pancras Hotel is located adjoining St Pancras station (Eurostar and High Speed 1
terminus) and on the north east
corner of central London. While this area is a little way from the main tourist
areas and the surrounding vicinity somewhat downbeat compared to the more
glamorous places the station itself provides some ultra modern facilities. These
include the longest Champagne bar in Europe at 90 meters long. There are several
restaurants and bars including burger bars, bakery, Brasserie, wine bar and a
Gastro pub. For a quick bite many big name coffee shops/Cafes are located within
the station. Shopping is also well catered for with an arcade and other shopping
areas as well as its own market. This location does suit business travellers
looking to have good access to the City of London which is a short taxi ride
away or 7 minutes by train from the adjacent from Kings Cross station. The
popular shopping area of Islington High Street is less than a mile to the east
by lacks the glamour of the more central shopping areas such as Knightsbridge
(2.4 miles) and South Kensington (3.2 miles). A mile to the north is the
shopping High Street of Camden which includes an always
busy market selling a
range of items including trend setting fashions. The nearest tourist area for
nightlife would be
Covent Garden
which is just over 1 mile to the south. Some other local places of interest
include the British Library (opposite),
Petrie Egyptian Archaeology Museum (0.5 miles) and
Dickens
House (0.6 miles).
The large open Space of
Regents Park
is less than a mile along the Marylebone Road and is home to
London Zoo.
Hotel:
The grade I listed St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel occupies the first two floors of the St Pancras Chambers
building, above the hotel are 67 luxury private apartments. The hotel is home to
what is said to be the most revered grand staircase in England (used in films
such as Spice Girls Movie and Batman Returns). The lobby is set in the area that
was used as the taxi rank for St Pancras station pre 2000. The lobby has a grand
style with some fantastic architecture.
Other notable
features include fifty feet high windows (15 meters) and a vaulted ceiling.
This modern hotel retains its original features with Gothic Revival metalwork,
gold leaf ceilings and hand-stencilled wall designs. One of the worlds great
railway station hotels along with the other London station hotel of the Andaz
Liverpool Street. Boutique style hotel.
Each bedroom has both wired and wireless internet access (charges), sound
proofed windows, air-conditioning, telephone with voicemail, desk and chair, iron and
ironing board, coffee and tea maker, Bose radio, flat screen television with pay movies and
safe. Bathrooms come with a hairdryer, robes and slippers.
Newspapers delivered
on request. 24 hour room service. Video bill review and checkout option. Evening
turndown service. Newspapers delivered to your room on request.
Barlow Room: 28 sq meters/301 sq ft
Barlow King: 32 sq metes/344 sq ft
Chambers bedrooms come with evening turndown service and club lounge access. The
Club lounge serves Full English breakfast, snacks, afternoon tea, hors d'oeuvres
and dessert. Alcoholic drinks are also served (non alcoholic drinks are free)
and bsiness services available.
There are 38 Victorian bedroom suites that occupy the historic section of the
hotel while the other rooms are housed with a new extension (not part of the
original Midland Grand Hotel). This modern section measures 120,000 square foot
(11,148 square meters).
The suites feature high ceilings and tall windows.
The Presidential Suite was once the Venetian Ballroom. The suite has 3 bedrooms
and a lavish lounge area.
All suites come with a personal butler service and access to the ground floor
private Chambers club where snacks and drinks are served 24 hours.
12 bedrooms are adapted for improved accessibility. Some bedrooms have views
over
St Pancras
Station itself.
Dining:
The Renaissance St Pancras hotel has 2 restaurants and 2 bars. One of the
restaurants is housed in the original ticket office while the other is within
the original entrance hall.
The Gilbert Scott Restaurant and Bar: Marcus Wareing's second restaurant. Serving
British classic dishes. Serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner. A great British brasserie located in the heart of
the hotel. Private dining room and kitchen table option. The bar section is
luxurious and distinctive bar experience.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Booking Office Bar: International menu. A striking setting for a business
breakfast, snack or classic English dining from an all-day menu serving
traditional fare, sumptuously updated, and a bar with its own take on classic
English mixology. Punches are served in hand-made copper punch bowls. The full
range of drinks includes ales, ciders, perries and porters from historical and
contemporary brewers across Britain.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Other facilities include the hotels own state-of-the-art Health and Leisure
centre featuring a swimming pool, whirlpool and gymnasium with free weights and
cardio machines.
Extensive meeting and function amenities with no less than 200 rooms. The
Renaissance St Pancras hotel
has a ballroom able to handle up to 350 guests.
Other amenities include a private club, currency exchange, laundry and a barber's shop. WiFi in pubic areas.
Smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas and bedrooms.
Parking: off-site parking option.
Bedroom Numbers:
245 / 38 suites / 5 floors
Check-in: 16.00 (4 pm)
Check-out: 12.00 (noon)
Background: Originally called the Midland Grand Hotel (later St Pancras
Hotel) and built in 1868
after being designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Sir John Betjeman said of the
original hotel "too beautiful and too romantic to survive" in a world of tower
blocks and concrete. The original hotel had a
capacity for 300 guests. The hotel was a striking red
gothic structure at the entrance to St Pancras Station. The hotel closed its
doors in 1935 after being unable to make a profit and was then used as railway
offices until the 1980's. The building was due for demolition the 1960's but
strong support for the building led to it being classed as a grade 1 listed
building (meaning it was protected from demolition). It then became known as the
St Pancras Chambers during its time in obsolescence.
Opened on the 14th March 2011.
During 2007/2011 (originally scheduled to reopen in 2009) the hotel was totally refurbished and remodelled while keeping
the original red facade. The project cost £100 million pounds and involved adding an
extension at the rear of the building. Many of the interior existing rooms that
have their own history are to be restored to the their original look. The
bedroom block is the work of bedroom-block designed by Richard Griffiths Architects. The upper floors have been made into loft apartments by the Manhattan Loft Corporation.
The original Ladies Smoking room has been kept (as an event room) and this
was the first room in Europe that women were allowed to smoke in.
Awards:
Hotel of the yea European Hospitality Awards 2011
