Known internationally as one of the world’s great ‘wow’ hotels, Corinthia London might occupy the former headquarters of the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, but Sophie Elkan was completely disarmed by capacity to charm all who enter.
The building itself was constructed in the late 1880s as the site of the Metropole Hotel but during the wars was requisitioned by the governments of the day. Post WWII it housed Defence Intelligence staff and was often used to depict MI6 HQ in the Daily Express’ popular James Bond comic strip. All very thrilling but the real thrills here are all due to very many delights in store for the hotel’s guests.
Whilst the local area is bursting with attractions including the West End’s famous theatreland and some of the city’s most prestigious bars and restaurants, you could just as easily spend the duration of your stay within the hotel: after just under 24 hours I felt as refreshed, restored and rejuvenated as I had after a week in Italy earlier this summer. (Perhaps more so, as all I needed to do was enjoy each experience rather than plan or organise anything.)
The Hotel
Let’s start with check-in, because from the moment we smiled up at the doorman we felt part of the Corinthia London family. We had arrived a little early for our check-in and so were whisked away to the stylish and buzzy Northall Bar for a restorative glass of champagne whilst final checks were being carried out to our suite. Five or ten minutes later one of the delightful reception staff arrived to let us know that our rooms were ready but not to feel any need to rush. Just as well, we had a brimming glass of Laurent Perrier to savour as we nibbled through several little bowls of bar snacks. We sauntered back over to Reception already feeling thoroughly spoiled and the feelgood only got better when we were shown to the Whitehall Suite, our home for the night.
The Rooms
I would say that each room is so thoughtfully decorated that it feels like a home from home, but that only really makes sense if your home is the embodiment of serene and considered luxury: crisp cotton sheets on a bed the size of a small ocean liner; strikingly tasteful art; sinkably soft sofas; lighting designed for both function and ambience; fresh flowers; a wood panelled dressing room; the marble bathroom replete with heavenly-scented toiletries from Espa and Wildsmith as well as a full box of useful grooming accessories; and back in the living room, a mini bar designed to tempt. Not forgetting the huge glass jar of sweets and other ‘unnecessary necessities’. Having mentioned it was my guest’s birthday, we were delighted to find a welcome note on the console table in the living room, beside a small cake (perfectly sized for two) and a bottle of champagne on ice. Feeling absurdly relaxed, we slipped into the fluffy robes and slippers hanging in the bathroom and went to discover the hotel’s world-famous spa.
The Spa and Thermal Floor
Spread over a generous four floors, ESPA Life at Corinthia London, is one of the city’s largest spas. The walls of the reception area are lined with beauty buys from Espa and Augustinus Bader, and on this floor you will also find the spa lounge, Nourished, which serves a restorative and delicious menu of microbiome-friendly dishes.
In addition to an impressively kitted-out gym there are seventeen treatment rooms, some of which are housed in private spa suites, allowing clients maximum discretion in moving from treatment to relaxation space. Moreover, the changing areas for men and women – each taking up more or less a floor for themselves – are a wellness experience in themselves, with sleep pods, sauna and steam rooms, recliners, herbal teas, water and fruit, and well-lit vanity booths.
The highlight of our visit, though, was the Thermal Floor. Its walls are lined in black marble, shot through with towering cracks, evoking the dramatic beauty of a silver birch forest at night. Different zones are delineated by floor-to-ceiling slices of frosted Perspex, like slabs of arctic ice.
There’s an amphitheatre style sauna for dry heat, and the cobalt-blue mosaic steam room exudes an invigorating scent of herbal oils. We loved the Vitality pool, the exterior of which is studded with red lights begging to be pressed to activate tumultuous hydrotherapy jets which pummel, massage and sooth. Having tried each in turn, we went to swim a few lengths in the sleek and silky stainless steel 15m pool before repairing to the heated marble spa loungers, ergonomically designed to support your body from head to toe with a gentle heat to melt away all lingering everyday aches and pains.
Utterly blissed out, we retreated back to our rooms to crack open that bottle of champagne before heading downstairs for dinner.
Kerridge’s Bar & Grill
On arriving, we were shown to a red leather banquette in the large dining hall where renowned chef and TV presenter Tom Kerridge has sited his first London restaurant. Kerridge’s first pub, The Hand & Flowers in Marlow, holds the unique distinction of being the only pub in the UK with two Michelin stars, and he is rightly famous for elevating the sort of food we all love to eat to unimagined levels of perfection. It’s safe to say our expectations were high, and they were consistently surpassed throughout the evening. The food was outstanding, but (again) it was the service that elevated our dining experience to magnificence, started off by finding a birthday card signed by Tom waiting for my guest at his seat, and a visit from the sommelier’s wine trolley proffering yet more champagne: there are six pages dedicated to sparkling wine and champagne alone on the restaurant’s fabulous drinks menu which features expert selections from all over the world. Although the great chef was not present that evening, the Kerridge factor is apparent throughout, not least in the striking sculptures by his wife, the sculptor Beth Cullen-Kerridge.
Back to the food. Our palettes were tantalised by a pillowy cheese doughnut, topped with toasted buckwheat and then further charmed by our choice of starters; crab crumpet and Pate en Croute which now comes with its own condiment trolley. Pure genius. We were invited to select our own ‘flight’ of accompaniments and opted for pickled quails eggs, mustard and an exemplary piccalilli.
Let’s just take a moment, though, for the breads (sourdough and treacle) which are served warm with cultured butter. I want to tell you to approach them with caution as they are so incredibly moreish you might be tempted to gobble up every crumb. This could imperil your capacity to fully appreciate your ordered dishes, but I fear resistance is futile (just make sure your waistband can be loosened and enjoy every moment of indulgence).
Our chosen mains included a fat slab of plaice served on a Pollock-like rich tartare sauce speckled with herb oil, and a pink rack of lamb from the specially selected Chef’s Larder. Both were exceptional, as were our sides of clotted cream mash and baby gem lettuce leaves with a dish salad cream for even more sinful dipping. If you think this sounds excessive, bear in mind we held out against the suggestion that we treat the mash as a dipping sauce and get some of the triple-cooked chips for the ultimate double-carb hit.
Desserts were unthinkable at first. However, after a pause to reflect we thought it would be neglectful not to sample the plum baba. When it was brought to our table those naughty, lovely, enabling wait-staff also brought a cocoa-rich chocolate treat for the birthday boy.
We had originally planned to wander through to Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese (also located on the ground floor) for a post-prandial cocktail or two but we were having too much fun where we were. The music was upbeat and vibey, the atmosphere was buzzing, and the serving team were charm personified. We’d entered Kerridge world, and we were there for the duration, only too happy to return the next morning for an equally pleasurable breakfast.
Our verdict? In my experience Corinthia London is simply unparalleled when it comes to making each guest feel welcome, special and significant, combining all the best elements of luxury, tradition, modernity and pleasure. Here’s just one more example of the very many ways in which the care and attention is baked into your experience: I was taking a quick photo of the famous Baccarat chandelier in the Crystal Moon lounge when a passing staff member came over to suggest she take a photo of me and my guest together. Now, I don’t know how many trips I’ve returned from to scroll through endless photos of buildings, doors, random cats, food and my family but none with me in them. Another way in which this trip will live on both in my memory and in my phone’s memory.
All you need to do is take pleasure in being so thoroughly cared-for. It has to be the definitive choice when it comes to commemorating a special occasion; be that an engagement, wedding night, anniversary stay or even what might be the ultimate hen celebration; the three-night treatment-packed Longevity & Regeneration Retreat.
Find out more about this and other special offers including room upgrades, complimentary champagne, late check-outs and even exclusive access to Cabaret The Musical at the Kit Kat club at the theatre opposite the hotel; corinthia.com
Planning on getting married in the capital?
Contact the expert Weddings Team at Corinthia London. From smaller celebrations in the intimacy of the Nelson Room, to opulent occasions held in the grandeur of the chandelier-lit Ballroom, they will bring together all of the elements which make Corinthia London so exceptional to help you throughout each step of planning your own magical ceremony and/or reception within the hotel.
