Whether it’s business or pleasure, you’ll do well to find a more luxurious night’s stay in England’s capital, than the Sheraton Grand Hotel Park Lane (a Starwood Hotel).
One of the most sought after and vibrant streets in London, Park Lane is cushioned between Hyde Park and Mayfair and is notoriously known for its historic properties and hotels. With a vast amount of hotels competing with each other, you’d imagine it’d be somewhat difficult to stand out, however the Sheraton Grand has undergone a recent renovation in a bid to do exactly that.
Originally opened for business in 1927 and boasting incredible views over the iconic Green Park, the hotel underwent a multi-million transformation last year and in doing so began a new chapter in its 90-year history. Not only has the transformation given the hotel a new modernistic feel, it’s also managed to beautifully retain the original elegance of the Art Deco style of the property, by bringing through features of the historic ballroom, where Queen Elizabeth II took part in dance lessons. If one thing’s clear from the renovation, it’s how much the Sheraton prides itself on its foundation. They’ve kept the grand lobby which serves afternoon tea, just as it did in the 1920’s, whilst it also has a number of historic artefacts on show, such as the original mortgage letter.
Only a short ten minute walk from the nearest tube station (Green Park), and right on the doorstep of London’s vibrant nightlife and world-famous attractions, the 303-room hotel has transformed its guest rooms and public spaces. The addition of 43 Sheraton club rooms and suits, have been designed to maximise space and comfort. Here guests are invited to indulge in a complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, a full bar and evening canapes, whilst also having access to private meeting rooms that seat up to eight people. An example of the effort that the hotel has gone to in order to make your stay as enjoyable and luxurious as possible is the new addition of Handy devices in each of the rooms. The gadgets, which are very similar to an iPhone, enable guests to surf the internet, make calls and download apps. They can also take them out of the hotel during their stay to assist them in navigating the city and exploring nearby surroundings. The hotel really does cater for all with no stones left unturned.
Also, in each room, the most vigilant of guests will spot a subtle Dalmatian ornament, signifying the connection between the famous Disney classic 101 Dalmatians and the aforementioned Green Park, which neighbours the hotel. 101 Dalmatians isn’t the only connection the Sheraton shares with the big screen. Due to its incredible 1920s ballroom, which is a stunning venue for the most prestigious of weddings and award ceremonies, the hotel has also been used to film parts of Danish Girl, the Titanic and Selfridges.
The famous Palm Court Lounge is traditionally the social heartbeat of the building and blanketed with a majestic stained glass ceiling, it effortlessly invites guests to take a seat, confer and enjoy each other’s company over a drink or delicacies from the bar. As part of the refurbishment, the hotel have also added a new Italian restaurant, Mercante, for hotel guests and visitors alike.
The restaurant offers diners an authentic taste of Italy, and the food is as flavoursome as the staff are attentive. The Mercante is a warm, low-lit and inviting and really captures Italy with its rustic native décor. When presented with the menu it all looked appetising so I decided to ask the Italian waiter to advise me on what to choose, to give him the opportunity to lead me towards the best dishes on offer.
For starter, he recommended Ox tongue which was slow-cooked for 36 hours and accompanied with pine nuts and capers. A wonderful hearty way to kick-start my meal. The melt-in your mouth Ox tongue was executed with utter perfection and the tender meat fell apart without much persuasion. My partner Helen was drawn towards the pork and beef meatballs in a rich ragu tomato and mozzarella sauce, for her initial dish, and was equally as delighted with her choice. For our mains we enjoyed the delightful guinea fowl sausages and the salmon with rustic potatoes and kale tossed in an oil, chilli and garlic. Both equally as good in quality but so different in taste. Compliments to the chef.
The restaurant also serves breakfast ranging from a continental to a full English. I sampled the baked eggs, which sounds simplistic but tastes delicious. Whether it’s breakfast or supper, it’s a real must.
After your meal, or if you’re just popping in to have a few drinks with friends, head on over to the detective themed Smith and Whistle cocktail bar where a variety of cocktails that have all been made in-house await you. This low lit bar has the perfect ambiance to encourage guests to switch off and take a break from the stresses of everyday life. If you’re feeling adventurous, I’d recommend giving the bar staff a few of your favourite flavours and the free-reign to create something tailored specifically for your taste buds, as that’s what I decided to do and they didn’t disappoint.
In summary, the 5 star Sheraton Grand oozes class in all aspects of its service. It’s gone to tremendous effort in order to reach the next level, without compromising the core experience that’s successfully managed to retain its vast amount of loyal of customers. The Sheraton is contemporary, yet still manages to capture the legacy of its heritage and surroundings. You get out what you put in and that couldn’t be more true with the effort the Sheraton has gone to with the incredible renovation.
Address: Piccadilly, Mayfair, London W1J 7BX
Phone: 020 7499 6321
