Introduction: The Stafford London Kempinski is situated
just off from Piccadilly in an area known as St. James's. The area is bounded by
Mayfair to the north and the grounds of Buckingham Palace and Green Park to the
south. Within St James's is St James's Place, once home to the Queen Elizabeth
the Queen Mother and still a royal palace with a Household Calvary Guard at the
entrance, making for a great photo opportunity. The road on which the hotel is
located, is a cul de sac separating the hotel from the busy surrounding streets.
This is a central location in an upmarket area home to several gentleman's
clubs. Piccadilly has many well known shops including Fortnum and Mason along
with the Royal Academy of Arts (RADA). The popular shopping streets of Regent
Street, Bond Street (known for high quality jewellery) and Knightsbridge all
close by also offer great shopping. Some of the many nearby attractions include
Michael Faraday Museum (0.3 miles), Guards Museum (0.4 miles), Ripleys Believe
it or Not Museum (0.4 miles), Nelsons Column and Trafalgar Square (0.52 miles),
Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament (0.65 miles), Cleopatra's Needle
(0.85 miles), London Aquarium (0.94 miles) and the London Eye (Millennium Wheel)
(1 mile). In reality this area is surrounded by attractions and amenities and is
a great central location while giving a feeling of seclusion.
Hotel:
The Stafford Hotel dates back to 1858and prides itself For Friendliness while
under-stated elegance affords every comfort. The main hotel building is s made
up of three townhouses.
All of the hotels bedrooms are individually designed and have a traditional
decor. Amenities include Air conditioning, safe, Satellite colour television
with USA news channels, US-style plugs, Computer modem and fax points, Personal
message facilities, A full valet service, Bose CD players, Hairdryer and
complimentary wireless internet access.
The Stafford Hotel has its rooms and suites spread out over its annexes and main hotel
building.
The Main House has 68 rooms and suites.
The Carriage House is home to 12 rooms and suites that occupy this
restored 18th century stable courtyard. Each room has original timber beams
which themselves are said to come from 18th century sailing ships. They are
furnished with English furniture and period pieces along with the latest in
modern amenities and tech. Come Christmas time, Christmas trees are placed
outside each door.
The Stafford Mews Opened in 2007 is home to 27 luxurious and classically
English suites with an elegant and sophisticated feel. Decorated with antique
furniture.
Room service is available 24 hours. Evening turndown service. Free overnight
shoe shine.
Dining Options:
Restaurant: AA 2 rosettes award winner. The Restaurant offers a gourmets delight
of classic English cuisine using fine ingredients complemented by an outstanding
selection of wines from the famous 350 year-old wine cellars. Serves breakfast,
lunch and dinner, Gentlemen are required to wear jackets.
Breakfast served 07.00 till 10.00 (Sunday 08.00 till 10.30),
The Lounge: The elegant venue for Traditional afternoon tea 15.00 till 18.00.
American Bar: Hundreds of signed celebrity photographs dating from the 1960's to
the current crowd the walls, and the ceiling is hung with a colourful collection
of club ties, sporting mementoes and baseball caps. The bar was once declared as
serving the best martini in the world and has won awards including being voted
the second 'Best Cocktail Bar' as voted by Gourmet magazine. Open daily and also
serves light snacks and suppers and the famous 'Stafford Burger'. Gentlemen are
required to wear jackets in the evenings. A fresco dining in the summer months.
Should you want to give a private dinner party or hold a business meeting 4
salons or the wine cellars are available for receptions, lunches and dinners.
Above the cellars is the carriage house.
The Stafford mews annexe houses the well equipped fitness room with cardio and
multi-gym machines and is open to all hotel guests.
There are 4 meeting rooms with a capacity for up to 70. Stafford Hotel guests receive
membership a nearby health club.
Wireless internet access is available at no charge throughout the entire hotel.
Room Numbers: 107
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon
Awards:
Travel and Leisure Magazine: 2010: 4th top large city hotel in
Europe
Forbes Traveler Top 400: 2008, 2007
Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report:
Number 2 international City Hotel 2006,2007, 2008
top London Hotel 2006, 2007
Catey Awards: Hotel of the Year 2008.
Virtuoso Best of the Best Awards "Best Concierge" in the World 2007
History:
The Stafford hotel was bought by 'Costain' in 1947. Bought by 'Trafalgar House '
in 1985. Bought by 'Daniel Thwaites plc' (actually owned by his his subsidiary,
'Shire Hotels') in 1995. Bought by Egyptian-owned leisure firm Britannia
Hospitality (run by the El Sharkawy family) in September 2009 for £77.5 million
pounds. Became a Kempinski Hotel in February 2009.
Major refurbishment in 1996 with continual re-investment annually since then.
Carriage House rooms added in 1990.
The Stafford Hotel main building was first built in the 17th century. The home
of Lord and Lady Lyttleton in the 1800's. Lady Lyttleton became Queen Victoria's
nanny (to her children) in 1849 and the home was sold at auction.
Thereafter till 1900 the home saw use as the Richmond Club Chambers, Green's
Private Hotel and St James's Palace Hotel. The adjacent building became the
Stafford Club in 1886. This was bought out in 1912 and the merged properties
became the Stafford Hotel. Became a club for American and Canadian officers
during the second world war.
