Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Last updated

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
MOLON 2017 EXTERIOR FINAL 02.jpg
Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
General information
Location66 Knightsbridge, London, United Kingdom
Opened
  • Apartment block (1882)
  • Reopened as hotel (1908)
  • Reopened after complete renovation (2000)
Owner Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
ManagementMandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Design and construction
Architect(s)Archer and Green
Other information
Number of rooms141
Number of suites40
Number of restaurants3 restaurants and 1 bar
Website
www.mandarinoriental.com/london/hyde-park/luxury-hotel

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, is a five-star hotel, located in the Knightsbridge area of London, owned and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Housed in a historic, Edwardian-style building, the hotel originally opened in 1908 as the Hyde Park Hotel and in 1996 the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group purchased the property and conducted a full renovation, consequently re-opening in May 2000.

Contents

In June 2018, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, completed the most extensive restoration in its 115-year history. [1] The hotel was damaged in a fire on 6 June 2018 which was mainly confined to the exterior courtyard area of the hotel with limited impact on the interiors and was temporarily closed. [2]

History

The building was constructed in 1882 by the architects Archer and Green and was originally designed as an apartment block. Although it faced Hyde Park, Queen Victoria did not permit the north entrance to the park to be signed. The southern entrance onto Knightsbridge became the main one used by the public, while the northern was reserved for the royal family. The apartments caught fire in 1904, and after refurbishment, were converted into a hotel in 1908. [3]

Between 1911 and 1912, the ballroom was redecorated in the style of Louis XVI. In 1925, the architects Charles Frédéric Mewès and Arthur Joseph Davis, who also remodelled some of the principal rooms in a traditional Louis XV style, added a palm court. [4]

The hotel was visited by several royals, including Queen Mary (wife of George V) and Edward VIII. Max Aitken, 1st Baron Beaverbrook, was staying at the hotel in 1916 when he was offered the peerage. Several silent film stars frequented the hotel, including Rudolph Valentino. [3]

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group purchased the property in 1996 and conducted a complete £57 million renovation of the hotel, as well as a re-design of the restaurants and bar. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, re-opened in May 2000. [5] [4] In June 2018, an extensive restoration of the hotel was completed. Internationally renowned designer, Joyce Wang, oversaw the redesign of the rooms, suites and public areas.

On 6 June 2018, a fire broke out at the hotel, [6] believed to have been caused by welding work, but no staff or guests were injured. [2] The hotel was temporarily closed for six months. [2]

In December 2018, the public areas of the hotel including all of their bars and restaurants reopened in time for Christmas. On 15 April 2019, the hotel reopened to full service with all rooms and suites reopened and ready to use. [7]

A royal entrance

As a private gentleman's club, the entrance to the building was through the loggia, but in 1902, when it reopened as Hyde Park Hotel, the postal address changed from Albert Gate to 66 Knightsbridge. Tradition has it that the Queen would not allow any form of advertising within the park, and therefore insisted that the main entrance, with the hotel's name above it, be moved from the park side to Knightsbridge. The Queen consequently mandated that the original entrance be preserved for royal use, unless permission is otherwise granted by the Royal Household, which has been upheld ever since. The doors were opened during the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937 when the Crown gave special permission for the guests to use the park entrance. [4]

Today, guests of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, can still take part in this tradition of the hotel by requesting permission from the Royal Parks to use the 'Royal Entrance' for special occasions. Guests who have been granted access to this entrance include members of the Japanese Imperial family, former South African Premier General Hertzog, and a President of Uganda. [4]

Noteworthy events

View of the Park Terrace restaurant Mandarin Oriental London Park Terrace.jpg
View of the Park Terrace restaurant

Many important events have been held at the Hyde Park Hotel. A few such events were Lady Doris Vyner's silver wedding party in 1948, with the King and Queen as guests of honour, and the Balaclava Ball, hosted by the five cavalry regiments who had taken part in the Balaclava charge, also attended by Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and the Queen Mother. [4]

Other celebrations include the 1992 production of "Pavarotti in the Park", one of the country's largest open-air concerts, the 1995 Anniversary of VE Day in which seven Heads of State and their delegations took up residence, and Party in the Park, one of Europe's largest music events. The hotel hosted the 80th birthday party of Margaret Thatcher which was attended by Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, along with former Prime Ministers John Major and Tony Blair, former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Jeffrey Archer and entertainers Shirley Bassey and Joan Collins among others. [4]

Restaurants and bar

The interiors of the restaurants and bar were created by the designer Adam Tihany. [8] The hotel is home to three restaurants: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, The Aubrey, and The Rosebery Lounge, as well as the Mandarin Bar.

The Rosebery Lounge serves traditional afternoon teas, including sandwiches, scones, and sweeter fancy items; its bespoke tea list has around 30 varieties. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knightsbridge</span> District in central London, England

Knightsbridge is a residential and retail district in central London, south of Hyde Park. It is identified in the London Plan as one of two international retail centres in London, alongside the West End. Knightsbridge is also the name of the roadway which runs near the south side of Hyde Park from Hyde Park Corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayfair</span> Area of central London, England

Mayfair is an area in London, England and is located in the City of Westminster. It is in Central London and part of the West End. It is between Oxford Street, Regent Street, Piccadilly and Park Lane and one of the most expensive districts in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hyde Park, London</span> Royal Park in London, United Kingdom

Hyde Park is a 350-acre (140 ha), historic Grade I-listed urban park in Westminster, Greater London. A Royal Park, it is the largest of the parks and green spaces that form a chain from Kensington Palace through Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, via Hyde Park Corner and Green Park, past Buckingham Palace to St James's Park. Hyde Park is divided by the Serpentine and the Long Water lakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group</span> Hong Kong hotel investment and management group

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group International Limited is a multinational hospitality and management group focusing on luxury hotels, resorts, and residences, with a total of 34 properties worldwide, 20 of which it wholly or partially owns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grosvenor House Hotel</span> Hotel in Mayfair, London, UK

JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, formerly the Grosvenor House Hotel, is a luxury hotel that opened in 1929 in the Mayfair area of London, England. Across from Hyde Park, the hotel is built on the former site of the 19th century aristocratic Grosvenor House residence. The hotel is managed by JW Marriott Hotels, which is a brand of Marriott International, and it is owned by Katara Hospitality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langham Hotel, London</span> Hotel in Marylebone, London

The Langham, London, is a 5-star hotel in London, England. It is situated in the district of Marylebone on Langham Place and faces up Portland Place towards Regent's Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maybourne</span> Luxury hotel operator

Maybourne is a Qatari-owned British luxury hotel operator, which owns and manages The Berkeley, Claridge's,The Connaught and The Emory in London, The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and The Maybourne Riviera in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok</span> A hotel in Bangkok

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is a five-star hotel in Bangkok owned in part and managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Located on the Chao Phraya River, the original structure was the first hotel built in Thailand when it opened as The Oriental in 1876. Today, the hotel is one of two flagship properties of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dorchester</span> Hotel in London

The Dorchester is a five-star hotel located on Park Lane and Deanery Street in London, to the east of Hyde Park. It is one of the world's most prestigious hotels. The Dorchester opened on 18 April 1931, and it still retains its 1930s furnishings and ambiance despite being modernised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hotel Gellért</span>

The Hotel Gellért is a historic Art Nouveau hotel established in 1918 and located on the west bank of the Danube in Budapest, Hungary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disneyland Hotel (Paris)</span> Disney owned hotel in France

The Disneyland Paris Hotel is located in Disneyland Paris between Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasia Gardens. The hotel is situated above the entrance turnstiles and ticket booths for Disneyland Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas</span> Luxury hotel in Paradise, Nevada

The Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, formerly the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, is a 47-story luxury hotel and condominium building in the CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. It is managed by Hilton Worldwide as part of the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand. It is owned by Tiffany Lam and Andrew and Peggy Cherng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">InterContinental London Park Lane</span> Hotel in London, England

InterContinental London Park Lane is a luxury five-star hotel in London, England operated by the InterContinental Hotels Group. It is located at 1 Hamilton Place on Hyde Park Corner with Park Lane, close to the shopping center of Knightsbridge and Piccadilly.

The Mandarin Oriental, Sanya is a luxury hotel and resort located in Sanya City on the southeastern coast of the island of Hainan, China. The 296-room resort opened in 2009 and is managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The hotel contains 10 restaurants and bars as well as the 3,200 m2 (34,000 sq ft) spa at Mandarin Oriental, Sanya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin Oriental, Paris</span> Luxury hotel in Paris

Mandarin Oriental is a five-star luxury hotel located in central Paris. The 135-room hotel joined the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group of managed hotels in June 2011. The hotel has 3 restaurants and bars, and a cake shop led by Chef Thierry Marx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch Corner (Knightsbridge)</span> Road junction in London, England

Scotch Corner is the road junction of Knightsbridge with the inceptive Brompton Road and Sloane Street. It is within the City of Westminster, facing the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid</span> Hotel in Madrid, Spain

The Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid is a historic five star Belle Époque hotel in Madrid, Spain at No. 5 in Retiro district, next to the Prado Museum. Opened in 1910, it is owned and managed by the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The hotel's façade is a listed national monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bulgari Hotel and Residences</span> Luxury hotel in Knightsbridge, London

The Bulgari Hotel and Residences is a luxury hotel in Knightsbridge, London. When it opened in 2012, it was the most expensive hotel in London, and the penthouse apartment sold for $157 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">100 Queen's Gate Hotel London</span>

100 Queen's Gate Hotel London, Curio Collection by Hilton is a historic 228-room townhouse hotel, part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, situated in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, within close proximity of Hyde Park. The hotel features three food and beverage venues: Cento Restaurant, an all-day brasserie and bar offering British-Italian fusion cuisine; Botanica, housed in a botanical glasshouse, designed for afternoon teas and cocktails; and ESQ bar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin Oriental, Taipei</span>

Mandarin Oriental, Taipei is a luxury hotel located in Songshan District, Taipei, Taiwan, close to Taipei Songshan Airport, Breeze Center and Taipei Arena. The hotel, opened in May 2014, is managed by Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. The hotel includes 303 rooms and suites, 6 restaurants and bars, and the Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Taipei.

References

Citations

  1. "Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London". Mandarin Oriental The Hotel Group. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Lake, Emma (11 June 2018). "Welding work at Mandarin Oriental believed to have set fire to planted wall". The Caterer. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 Weinreb et al. 2008, p. 426.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London - the History". Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  5. "10 Facts About Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park". Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  6. "Mandarin Oriental fire: Blaze at Knightsbridge hotel". BBC News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  7. "Luxury 5 Star Hotel | Hyde Park | Mandarin Oriental, London". 17 August 2021.
  8. "Media Centre | Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group". 23 August 2021.
  9. Guy, Sandy (14 October 2023). "London's best afternoon teas" . The West Australian . Retrieved 29 December 2023.

Sources

51°30′8.3″N0°9′36.0″W / 51.502306°N 0.160000°W / 51.502306; -0.160000