Introduction: The Berkeley is nicely located, in the
plush and upmarket central London area of Knightsbridge but in a semi secluded
site street slightly away from the busy roads that surround it. Just 150 yards
from the hotel and across Knightsbridge are the large parks of
Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. In the
summer boats can be hired to row on the central Serpentine Lake while the parks
are full of places to eat and snake, famous statues and landscaped gardens. The
The Berkeley hotel is close to Knightsbridge Barracks and early mornings the troops can be
seen exercising their horses around the riding path within Hyde Park. The hotel
is within central London and handy for just about all the best known
attractions. There are two tube stations within 300 yards while Knightsbridge
has 9 bus routes running along it as well as a London taxi always to be found
here. Just 1/3rd of a mile to the east is Green Park which forms part of the
grounds to
Buckingham Palace (official residence of the British monarch). 300 yards to
the west finds the start of Sloane street which has a well deserved reputation
for some of the best in fashion boutiques and designer clothing. The surrounding
area in general has a good selection of bars and restaurants. Some of the
nearest places of interest include Apsley House (home of the first Duke of
Wellington) (0.2 miles),
Wellington Arch
(0.2 miles),
Harrods
Department Store (0.3 miles), Brompton Oratory (second largest Roman
Catholic church in London) (0.6 miles) and Buckingham Palace (0.6 miles).
Hotel:
With views over Hyde Park
The Berkeley hotel has an elegant and discreet
style blending with the contemporary thanks to designers that include Tessa
Kennedy And John Stefanidis.
Bedrooms and suites are all individually decorated and furnished with a
contemporary feel. They all have en-suite facilities with a separate bath and
shower, hairdryer, bathrobes, top brand toiletries, slippers and chrome
fittings. In your air-conditioned bedroom you will find an alarm clock, fridge
with minibar, windows that open, central heating, direct dial telephone with
voicemail, high speed internet access, CD/DVD player and library. Televisions
are interactive offering cable channels, pay to view movies and an internet
browser with infra-red keyboard.
All rooms and suites at The Berkeley hotel are provided with a 24 hour room service, free newspaper,
wakeup calls and evening turndown. They are also all air-conditioned. Some
bedrooms have a balcony or terrace. Some suites have a fireplace and the Park
Suite has a kitchenette. Laptops and printers available. Some suites come with
an Ipad supplied by the hotel.
Floors have lift access.
Room Types:
Superior Queen: Suited to single occupancy. 16 sq mtrs / 172 sq ft
Superior King/Twin: Some overlook Hyde Park. Seating area. 26 sq mtrs / 280 sq
ft
Deluxe King/Twin: Marble bathroom. 30 sq mtrs / 323 sq ft
Balcony Twin/Twin: Have their own balcony. 26 sq mtrs / 280 sq ft
Superior Junior Suite: King bed or twin beds. Marble bathroom. Open plan. 40 sq
mtrs / 431 sq ft
Deluxe Junior Suite: King bed or twin beds. Open plan with separate living area.
Marble bathroom. 45 sq mtrs / 484 sq ft
One Bed Knightsbridge Suite: Separate sitting room. Some overlook Hyde Park. 62
sq mtrs / 667 sq ft
Corner Suite: Double aspect windows. 75 sq mtrs / 807 sq ft
Park Suite: One bedroom. Large sitting room area and separate study. Marble
bathroom with walk-in shower. Kitchenette and guest room. 80 sq mtrs / 861 sq ft
Two Bedroom Knightsbridge Suite: Each bedroom en-suite (Marble, walk-in shower).
90 sq mtrs / 969 sq ft
Grosvenor Conservatory Suite: One bedroom. Sitting room, conservatory and marble
bathroom. 120 sq mtrs / 1,292 sq ft
Wellington Conservatory Suite: Marble bathroom with personal sauna. Conservatory
and private roof terrace. 140 sq mtrs / 1,507 sq ft
Pavilion Conservatory Suite: One bedroom King suite. Marble bathroom, sitting
room, conservatory and private terrace. 155 sq mtrs / 1,668 sq ft
Berkeley Suites: Designed by Helen Green. Luxurious with plasma TV. Sitting room
and marble bathroom has its own TV and walk-in shower. 75 sq mtrs / 807 sq ft
Chelsea Suite: Designed by Dan Hopwood. One bedroom King bed. Rich and opulent
colours. Separate sitting-room with iwood panelling, designer armchairs, purple
sofa, coffee table and desk. A private bar. Granite bathroom with plasma TV. 62
sq mtrs / 667 sq ft.
Four Poster Suite: Corner suite with elegant entrance hall and seperate
cloakroom. Traditional sitting room with fireplace and full length windows.
Marble bathroom.
Dining Options:
Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley: (formerly Pétrus). 70 seat capacity.
Opened Autumn 2008. This highly acclaimed sophisticated fine dining restaurant
from Michelin star and British chef Marcus Wareing is designed by David Collins
and features rich claret tones, French blinds and vivid colours. Decor such as
the 2 abacuses giving a quirky feel amidst the grandeur. There is also an
intimate private room for up to 16 guests and a chef's table for 8 guests to
watch the action of the kitchen. Serves contemporary European cuisine with rich
flavours subtly enhanced but never overpowered.
Open: noon till 14.30, 18.00 till 23.00 (Closed all day Sunday, Saturday closed
for lunch).
Koffmann's: Opened in summer 2010 by French chef Pierre Koffmann. Serves
seasonal French cuisine. The menu offers hearty, robust, seasonal food,
influenced by Pierre's Gascon heritage, with a good value Menu du Jour which
changes daily. Some dishes are designed to highlight the theatre of carving and
confident performance “à la table”. Many of Koffmanns signature favourites also
feature, such as scallops with squid ink, braised pigs trotter with morels, and
pistachio souffle with pistachio ice cream. Assured, attentive service and an
atmosphere of convivial bonhomie. The surroundings are simple, elegant and
understated with the use of earthy colours, on leather chairs and banquettes
and off-white geometrically textured wall coverings. A series of food-themed
photographs by Jean Casals line the walls, and the kitchen is open to view for
great visual theatre.
Open: Noon till 15.30 (till 14.30 weekends), 18.00 till 22.30.
Boxwood Cafe: 120 seat capacity. Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Café is his take
on the upscale New York Café scene. Los Angeles designer Barbara Barry has
created a relaxing, sophisticated environment in greens, browns and delicate
tea-leaf paper. Here you will find traditional levels of service with a relaxed
feel. The menu takes its inspiration from ingredients that you would expect to
find at a traditional English market.
Open: noon till 15.00, 18.00 till 23.00, 23.00 till 01.00. (Weekend noon till
16.00, 18.00 till 23.00).
The Caramel Room: 60 seat capacity. The name reflects the design by New
York designer Alexandra Champalimaud. With subtle low-lighting, chocolate wall
coverings and faux-crocodile fabrics the atmosphere is sexy and discreet.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served here and is open all day. A morning
menu offers a range of coffee's and toppings. Prêt-à-Portea is the legendary
fashionistas afternoon tea held every day in The Caramel Room from 13.00 to
17.30. All the cakes and fancies in the tea are inspired by the latest fashion
seasons collections which change twice a year.
The Blue Bar: 50 seat capacity. Designed by David Collins. Favourite
cocktails in The Blue Bar are the signature Berkeley Champagne Cocktail and the
sublime Ginger Cosmopolitan. You have a choice from over 50 whiskies and a large
selection of Champagnes while win is sold by the glass. Special menu where
Cigars are sold in conjucntion with carefully matched wines. Savoury and sweet
tapas-style dishes served and the bar remains open throughout the evening. The
decor features the hotels own 'Lutyens Blue' while the bar is onyx and the
ambience one of a sumptuous and individual feel.
Open: 16.00 till 01.00 (Sunday 15.00 till midnight)
There are six private, air-conditioned and individually decorated rooms for all
kinds of occasions including cocktail parties, private dining, receptions and
meetings, for as few as 6 to as many as 400 guests.
The Rooftop Spa Has A well equipped Gymnasium And A Heated Swimming Pool That
Opens To The Sky In Fine Weather. The The Berkeley hotels heath club also features Warm up
and work out rooms, Four treatment rooms, Ladies and gentlemens lounges with
steam rooms and saunas. Daily membership is available.
Security staff are on hand 24/7.
Picnics can be arranged for days out. Among others services are luggage
unpacking, ports, 24 hr concierge, currency exchange and complimentary shoe
shine.
Room Numbers: 214 / 7 floors
Check-in: 14.00 (2 pm)
Check-out: 12.00 noon
History: Sold to the Barclays brothers for £695 million pound along with the
Connaught Hotel and
The Clarides Hotel from the National
Asset Management Agency who had taken on the hotels from Irish banks who had
made a toxic loan to the Maybourne Hotel group in 2005 for the same hotels.
Although The Berkeley hotel itself has stood on
this spot since opening in 1972 its heritage can date back to the 1800's. At
this time a hotel of the same name, The Berkeley, was located on the corner of
Piccadilly and Berkeley Street (from where the name Berkeley originates). On
January 1st 1901 that hotel was bought by Richard D’Oyly Carte who also founded
the Savoy Hotel and came under the ownership of the Savoy Group. I later years
modernising and updating the hotel became a problem because the original
building was not purpose built as a hotel. Eventually it was decided that a new
site would have to be sought and purpose built hotel constructed. Properties
were bought close to Hyde Park Corner and planning permission was granted to
demolish them and a construct a brand new purpose built hotel. Works commenced
in 1968 and the brand new Berkeley opened in 1972. The architect was Martin
O'Rorke.
Some of the wood panelling and decorative carvings from the original hotel were
installed in a sitting-room off the front hall. Known as the Lutyens Room, it
became the Blue Bar in 1999.
Pyrus was the hotels Gordon Ramsay restaurant from 2008 till 2008.
Awards:
Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley restaurant is an
AA 5 rosettes holder
and Michelin Two Star
holder.
Travel and Leisure magazine: Europe top 100: 2009
Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards:
2007: Top UK business hotel
2006: Gold status for service
2005:Gold status for service
