A gentleman once asked, “what hotel does a gentleman stay at when in London?” another gentleman replied “I don’t stay at a hotel, I stay at Brown’s” and that saying sums up how Brown’s makes you feel, like one of the family and becomes your home from home, whether you’re staying for a day, a week or a month Brown’s go above and beyond to make you feel at home, from the moment you step out of your taxi and arrive at the door.

Located on Albemarle Street in the heart of London’s Mayfair you will find Brown’s Hotel, this pinnacle of luxury accommodation and fine dining has over the years become a beacon for royalty, presidents past and present and even become “home from home” for literary icons such as Rudyard Kipling.

This exquisite hotel offers the very best of British hospitality to suit everyone’s needs, as soon as you arrive at Brown’s you are greeted by the wonderful, helpful and extremely polite doormen, dressed to impress with beautifully tailored suits and morning jackets that scream of timeless fashion. Also, timeless fashion is the way in which you’re led down Brown’s wonderful central hallway with rich mosaic tiles, passing by the drawing room used for functions, meetings, and daytime relaxation and when evening comes, offers the rich sound from the glorious piano with a skilful pianist making every guest feel as though they have travelled back in time to the golden years of Hospitality.

We often hear that time and technology solve all solutions, but I am thrilled to see that Brown’s has kept to a timeless look, we speak of the golden age as if it was over, well dear readers I can tell you that those wonderful timeless years are kept alive at Brown’s. Yes, your door key is wireless, and check-in is somewhat digital, but at the heart of it all is people, and without great people, you have no hotel – and what a tremendous hotel Brown’s is!

The Gentleman Magazine was fortunate enough to stay in the wonderful Kipling Suite, named after the well-known author Rudyard Kipling, who penned one of his famous stories The Jungle Book at Brown’s Hotel itself. The Jungle book also happens to be my favourite story and knowing the author himself came up with the story at Brown’s, and that I have shared in the experience this wonderful establishment has to offer, will forever be in my memory.

As you might expect the Kipling suite is the most distinguished residence available at Brown’s and features playful nods to Kipling throughout, you will find an adorable monkey watching over your door to a handwritten letter from Rudyard Kipling written on Brown’s stationery of the era. This breath-taking suite features a wonderful entrance hall that to the right sweeps into one of the most luxurious sitting rooms in London that has been beautifully paired with antique furnishings, as well as modern contemporary to offer a wonderful balance that can rarely be achieved.

On the left wing of this beautiful suite, you will find the tremendously decorated bedroom with a wonderful king-size bed that feels like you’re sleeping on cloud nine itself. This room and the whole suite features floor-to-ceiling windows that make every room feel airy, light and bright. Gold and green hand-painted Lewis & Wood wallpaper and one-of-a-kind artwork top off the bedroom to make you feel as though you were staying in Kensington Palace itself.

Bathrooms might seem like a strange thing to comment on in a review, but to that, I will say not to comment on them would be doing Brown’s a disservice, upon entering you would think you have entered one of the world’s most luxurious spa’s, you are greeted with soft golden lighting featuring luxurious Italian Arabescato marble throughout with double shower, double washbasins all crafted out of this exquisite marble. A freestanding bath is also included along with indulgent Irene Forte Skincare toiletries to make your stay feel extra special. To say Brown’s offers the most luxurious experience anyone could ask for feels completely justified.

Dining:

It wouldn’t be a Brown’s review without talking about its wonderful fine dining options. Situated within Brown’s you will find Charlie’s Restaurant a greatly lit space full of vibrance atmosphere and culture, with many prestigious names hung on the wall who have dined there over the years, with a large distinctive black and white of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II overlooking the whole service. Compiled of fine wood panelling, wonderful intimate booths and glorious birds of paradise wallpaper that works brilliantly and really makes you soak in the atmosphere.

To say the food was amazing is an understatement, from breakfast to dinner the extremely polite, and thoughtful staff cater for every dinner’s request with the utmost respect and you can tell they all have a real passion for their roles. For breakfast, we were treated to Eggs Royal and Eggs Benedict accompanied by fresh fruit juice of our choosing, we opted for the orange juice which was the best I’ve ever had it along with tea and a cappuccino, while the St Ewe eggs were cooked to perfection every time, it mustn’t go unsaid how gorgeous the pastries were, rich buttery croissants and fresh filled Danish pastries were a total delight, in fact, everything was perfection.

Dinner again is a wonderful display of British culinary heritage with an amazing contemporary flair that truly gave the wow factor. Another wonderful touch was the special trolly being presented to every guest before ordering, yet another glimpse of a bygone era which is so nice to see being upheld. On the night the special was a wonderful glazed ham which looked like a gleaming gemstone on its silver platter.

The dinner menu also offered a rich and diverse selection of seasonal cuisine, for many years I’ve said we all need to be eating more seasonal foods and to see venison on the menu in a 5* hotel in London really brought a smile to my face. After choosing a wonderful starter of native lobster linguine with chilli and spinach, watercress and lovage soup with soft St Ewe egg, it had to be the steak for the main, the Venison saddle was calling me, and I’m sure I will sample it again at some point, but the steak won overall after I saw it go out of the pass, I knew I’d have to try it. Accompanied with sides of fresh baby sprouting broccoli with chilli and lovely mashed potatoes, the steak with its rich peppercorn sauce and bed of chanterelles gave this steak the number one spot.

For dessert a classic that I have not seen on a menu for a long time, and I believe needs to make a big comeback is a Baked Alaska, it was as if I was reliving a childhood memory when eating this wonderful dessert so expertly crafted. To say one word about dinner, it would be, superb! If you’re looking for a place to stay in the heart of London that simply offers the best hospitality anyone could ask for, delivers cuisine in a flawless delivery and has one of the best home-from-home atmospheres some could only dream about, its got to be Brown’s!

If you would like to learn more about Brown’s Hotel, please visit:

www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/brown-s-hotel/

THE GUARDSMAN

ROLLS-ROYCE GHOST REVIEW