Tuesday, 31 October 2023

The Goring Hotel / Belgravia / London




 

The Goring Hotel is a 5-star hotel in Belgravia, London. It is located near Buckingham Palace. Its restaurant, The Dining Room, holds one Michelin Star.

 

History

The Goring Hotel was opened by Otto Richard Goring on 2 March 1910 and professed to be the first hotel in the world in which every room had a private bathroom and central heating.[ In 1914, The Goring became the command centre for the Chief of Allied Forces, and contact with President Woodrow Wilson during World War I was made from this hotel.[6] In November 1917 it became the U.S. Army Headquarters in London, as it was adjacent to the American Naval and Military authorities. The hotel was released back to its owners on 8 September 1919.

 

In 1919, Lady Randolph Churchill, the mother of Winston Churchill, moved into The Goring Hotel. During World War II, the Fox Film crew stayed at the hotel on their way to film footage of the D-Day invasion.

 

The hotel is the only remaining hotel in London that is still owned and run by the family that built it. The Queen Mother was a regular at The Goring.[9] The Goring has held a royal warrant of appointment from Queen Elizabeth II since 2013, and it is the only hotel to have been granted this honor.

 

In 2011, Kate Middleton and her family were based at the hotel for the days around her wedding to Prince William. The Duchess stayed in the Royal Suite the night before she got married. She returned to the hotel while eight months pregnant to mark renovations that had taken place, which included a newly decorated front hall.

 

HISTORY OF THE GORING

https://www.thegoring.com/the-goring/our-history/

 

One hotel, One family

Built by Jeremy Goring’s great-grandfather Otto in 1910, The Goring has been lovingly run by the Goring family since its inception.

 

A visionary, Otto Goring saw great promise in a plot of land situated at the Buckingham Palace end of what today is known as Beeston Place. After removing a public house and several cottages, the path was laid clear for the last grand hotel of the Edwardian era – The Goring.

 

Opened on the 2nd March 1910 this historic hotel was finally complete, along with en suite facilities and central heating in each and every bedroom – widely believed to be a world first.

 

A number of historic events have taken place at The Goring over the last 113 years. The Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces was based at the hotel during World War I. Winston Churchill held meetings with allied leaders in the Silver Room during World War II, while the Polish army in exile was based upstairs. During the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the hotel played host to a number of foreign dignitaries and other esteemed guests. In between all that, every reigning Monarch and serving Prime Minister has been welcomed into the hotel since 1910. And of course there have been all sorts of other historic events where The Goring has been privileged to assist.

 

George Goring, took over The Goring in the late 1960s from his father and refurbished it from top to bottom. He was voted Hotelier of the Year in 1990 and awarded an OBE for services to hotel keeping in 1991. George was also a founder and chairman of Pride of Britain Hotels, and chairman of the Master Innholders. In 2010 he was awarded the AA lifetime achievement Award.

 

During his tenure he guided The Goring through recessions and oil crises, putting it on the map as one of London’s very best hotels. He insured that The Goring built a lasting and enviable reputation for excellent service. But he also made it a joyful place to be, engendering a loyalty from both staff and guests that is almost unique in today’s international hotel scene. George sadly passed away in 2020 and Jeremy continues the family legacy building upon the strong values and traditions of his father.

 

Otto Goring

 

 OVER A CENTURY OF LUXURY SERVICE

Today, The Goring remains a favourite address and hidden gem for anyone seeking that impeccably English luxury hotel in the heart of London.

 

Through four generations of the Goring family, the hotel has come to deliver some of the finest personal service in the world. This world class service is set against the elegant backdrop of the rest of the hotel. From the Linley designed Dining Room celebrating the very best of British food, to the artistry of the hand-woven Gainsborough Silks which adorn the walls so gracefully, The Goring is a wonder to behold. The inside of the hotel is beautifully enhanced by The Goring Gardens – one of the largest private gardens in the capital. The Gardens provide guests with the perfect setting to enjoy the award-winning afternoon tea and The Goring is proud to be leading the way in restoring this wonderfully English pastime to popularity once again.

 

With only 69 luxurious suites and rooms, The Goring is affectionately known as a “Baby Grand”. It is the finest of traditional hotels in the perfect location, but with the most intimate of atmospheres and personalised attention.

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