Introduction: The Strand Palace Hotel London is in a
central location, right in the heart of the main tourist areas. On the East side
of the Strand, a short stroll from the law courts, the hotel also enables easy
access into the financial district and the city of London which is a straight
run along Fleet Street and on into St Paul's. The hotel is close to many of
London's best known areas such as
Covent Garden (located
at the rear of the hotel),
Trafalgar
Square (1/3 of a mile at the far end of the Strand) and the River Thames
(200 yards) which is just the other side of the Strand, as well a host of
theatres on the strand itself. This location is on the edge of the capitals
theatreland. Indeed along the Strand itself are a number of theatres such as the
Vaudeville theatre just yards from the hotel. The Strand itself is a very busy
road but also gives good transport links thanks to the everflow of Taxis and
many bus routes that have stops along it. Local places of interest close to the
Strand Palace Hotel include the Courtauld Institute Gallery (a centre for the study of history and conservation)
(0.1 miles),
Cleopatras Needle (0.2 miles), St Clement Dames Church (RAF central church)
(0.3 miles), National gallery (0.3 miles), Leicester Square (0.4 miles) and
South Bank (home to a range of theatres and galleries (0.4 miles).
Hotel:
Originally built as an art-deco showpiece after the turn-of-the-century (famed
in the 1920's for its art deco entrance and foyer), the Strand Palace hotel has
been carefully updated and equipped with modern amenities over the years. Now a
large hotel serving London's west end.
The guest rooms at the Strand Palace Hotel are decorated with a contemporary décor and
furnishings and all have a bath and shower. All of these rooms have cable TV
with pay movies, WiFi internet access, table, direct dial phone, tea and coffee
making facilities, heating, trouser press and hairdryer.
Club rooms have WiFi, plasma television and a dedicated check-in area. Bathrobes
available on request. Booking a club room also gives complimentary access to a
health club situated opposite the hotel.
Both standard and club rooms have single, twin and double options.
Club lounge is situated on the second floor.
Room service is 24 hours.
Dining:
Strand Carvery: Offers a traditional English Carvery buffet in a modern
setting. A limited 'a la carte' menu of grills and stir fry is also available.
Open 17.00 til 22.00, Monday to Saturday. Sunday lunch noon till 15.00.
Johnstons Brasserie: Where the laid back atmosphere of California meets
the fabulous tastes of the Mediterranean. International menu and extensive wine
list. open for lunch, pre-theatre dinner and post theatre supper. Dishes include
Wood fired pizza, speciality pasta, West coast salads and Tear & Share Combos.
Open noon till 22.00.
Lounge Bar: Adjacent to the hotel lobby this casual bar serves a range of
coffee's and tea's along with alcoholic drinks (beers, wines, spirits etc.).
Open all day for drinks and snacks. There is also a WiFi connection in this
area.
The Mask Bar: Perfect place to enjoy an exotic cocktail or a warming
single-malt. An ideal place for a relaxing sundowner after a hectic business
meeting, a busy day's sightseeing or shopping. Open 10.00 till 02.00.
Hops! Bar: Offers a British pub-like atmosphere with lively music and a
great selection of beers and spirits. Entrance opens directly out onto the
street. Also features a sports screen, pool tables and authentic tapas. Open
noon till 23.00.
The Strand Academy provides business and meeting facilities. There are 9
meeting/function rooms which can handle from 12 boardroom style in the smallest
room to 200 delegates reception style in the largest. They are all
air-conditioned and have high tech amenities.
Access to Internet and e-mail is also available in the club lounge (fee's may
apply). The hotel has a dedicated concierge team, who can assist guests with
tours and tickets.
The Strand Palace hotel is served by 3 lifts and offers luggage storage facilities. WiFi can
be picked up in all areas of the hotel. Laundry and ironing services. Business
centre located in lobby.
Since July 2007 this has been a totally no-smoking hotel throughout.
Parking: Not onsite.
Room Numbers:
783 / 9 floors
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out:
12.00 noon (express option)
Background: Bought by
Trust House Forte Ltd January 1977. Sold to Granada plc in 1996.
The hotel first opened in 1909 (designed by Oliver P. Bernard) when it was a
class leading art deco hotel. It later expanded in the 1920's by acquiring the
adjacent Haxell's Hotel and carrying out a large scale refurbishment to merge
the two buildings. The hotel has a strong American connection due to being used
by American forces during world war II as a rest and recuperation residence. In
1958 all bedrooms were fitted with en-suite facilities.
In 1969 the hotels glamorous 1930's foyer was saved from being destroyed, being
restored and placed on display at the Victoria and Albert museum in 2003. In
2008 it was shipped to Melbourne Australia to become part of NGV's major art
deco exhibition.
Comment: Nearly half the bedrooms were upgraded in a multi
million pound project during 2006/07 which included interior areas such as the
lobby. Other interior areas were refurbished 2007/09.
