HOTEL REVIEW: THE GORE LONDON
THERE’S only one short, three-letter word to describe our room in The Gore, on the edge of Hyde Park, in South Kensington… WOW!
And incredibly the Miss Ada Junior Suite is not regarded as the most sought after room in this unique boutique hotel located in prime London real estate within easy walking distance of the top museums, Harrods and Harvey Nichols.
If we were stunned by the four poster bed, the antique furniture, and the original oils and Victorian- style decor, then we nearly fell over quite literally when we peeped inside the bathroom to find the toilet ‘disguised’ in the form of a throne, a large wooden seat mounted on a red carpet pedestal complete with arm rests.
It took a bit of getting used to, and it certainly would not be suitable for those less mobile in that you actually had to climb up onto the throne in order to use it… as a toilet that is! And the bath with monsoon shower too was also a bit of a hurdle to negotiate for those with any sort of mobility problem – so it’s fair to say that the bathroom scored highly on novelty factor but not so highly on practicality.
However, The Gore literally exudes Victorian eccentricity and has been celebrated as one of London’s most charming and enchanting hotels down the years. From antique carved beds to original paintings, each of the six floors is packed with period detail and handpicked decorative pieces.
Our room was named after Miss Ada Cooke – a descendent of famous explorer Captain James Cooke – and her sister Miss Fanny who opened The Gore way back in 1892, quickly establishing it as one of the most charming and high profile places to stay in London.
According to the hotel, the Miss Ada Room “defines her legacy” with antique furniture, big bay windows overlooking Queensgate, complete with a huge four-poster bed canopied in crimson velvet.
The Miss Ada Room is one of a half dozen deluxe rooms named in honour of famous guests, but by far the best known is that named after film star Judy Garland, the Holywood musical icon. Apparently Miss Garland, forever remembered for her role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, requested that her own gilt wooden bed be flown over from America to The Gore for her stay, and it is still here today.
Indeed the Judy Garland Room is probably the creme de la creme of all The Gore’s 50 individually unique bedrooms, ranging from Queen and ‘Wonderful Doubles’ through to Luxury Doubles and Deluxe Rooms to the signature Tudor Room, reckoned by many visitors to be the grandest of all. Each are adorned with beautiful artwork, oak beamed ceilings along with all the modern hi-tech amenities including flat screen TVs, Wifi and free to use during your stay smart phone.
In contrast, the hotel itself says that there is simply nothing like ‘The Tudor Room’ in the whole of London outside the Royal residences. With its oak four-poster bed, a 15th century Minstrels’ Gallery, high oak-beamed ceilings, Portland stone fireplace, candelabras and rich furnishings, this could well be the most beautiful bedroom in the whole of the capital.
The Gore London – full name The Gore Starhotels Collezione – not only has connections to Captain Cooke and Judy Garland, but also to the most iconic rock group of all time, The Rolling Stones. The Gore’s Bar 190, which is within a few minutes walking time of The Royal Albert Hall, is the perfect place for pre or post performance drinks, but is most famous for being the location of the Rolling Stones launch of their album Beggars Banquet in 1968. Bar 190 lives up to the rest of the The Gore’s extremely high level of expectations, with luxurious yet intimate surroundings where guests can unwind with their favourite cockail or with any one of a number of tasty dishes recommended by bar staff. The bar also offers a VIP area, Cinderella’s Carriage, which is particularly beautifully adorned.
We had a meal in the restaurant, 190 Queen’s Gate. It is intimate and stylish, like everything in The Gore, serving top class fare. The restaurant has a Michelin starred chef Daniel Galmiche, whose forte is offering a “sublime gastronomic experience, interpreting great British classics with a contemporary touch and exquisite French flair.”
In terms of locality, The Gore – a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts group – could not be in a better place for sightseeing visitors to the capital. The Natural History Museum, The Science Museum, and the Victoria and Albert are all within 15 minutes walk with top Knightsbridge stores like Harrods and Harvey Nichols just a wee bit further away.
The hotel is also right beside the Victoria & Albert Memorial in Hyde Park and 10 minutes walk from Kensington Palace, also in Hyde Park. Staying at The Gore you have a choice of two Tube stations, Gloucester Road and South Kensington for connections to the city centre and mainland stations like Victoria (for the Gatwick Express), Paddington and Waterloo.
The Gore has attracted pop icons, film stars, aristocrats, leading politicians and some of the best known characters in the city of London over the years – the atmosphere of this wonderful establishment is such that you feel as if you are brushing shoulders with them in the lobby and evesdropping on their conversations in their daily lives… what a remarkable place!
Brian Ogle
FACTBOX: The Gore London – Starhotels Collezione, 190 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5EX. Tel: 0207 584 6601. Email: reservations.thegore@starhotels.com
The 'Travel' Life of Brian 