There are many things Queen Elizabeth II liked to do when she was away from her favorite Balmoral Castle in Scotland and staying in London: strolling through Fortnum & Mason department store, enjoying a smoked eel foam at Bellamy’s (in the Mayfair neighborhood) and savoring her favorite lobster and eggs at The Goring, the hotel closest to Buckingham Palace and a British royal favorite since it opened its doors in 1910. This legendary establishment in the British capital enjoys the rare privilege of being the only hotel to which the Queen awarded a Royal Warrant, a distinction given by the British royal household for its hospitality services that accredits them as official suppliers; the Goring received the honor in 2013.
The last bastion of independent London hospitality was founded by a German, Otto Goring, who moved to London in 1893 to take a job as a banquet waiter. A tireless worker, in 1910 he managed to open an establishment with only 50 rooms. The hotel is still owned by the same family today. The building was designed by the architect John Evelyn Trollope, one of the greatest exponents of Edwardian baroque. It was the first hotel in the world to offer central heating and en-suite bathrooms in each room.
The Goring also played a prominent role during wartime conflicts. During World War II, Winston Churchill held meetings with the Allies in the Silver Room, while the Polish Army in Exile was based upstairs. Even Churchill’s mother, Jennie Spencer-Churchill, stayed there for a time. But it was not only a prime location during war; the hotel is also a favorite for celebrations. For example, in 1953, on the occasion of the coronation of Elizabeth II, it became an annex of Buckingham Palace and hosted many of the European royal and aristocratic guests. Years later, the Middleton family would take over the hotel for the royal wedding of Kate Middleton to Prince William, the current heir to the throne. The current Princess of Wales chose to spend the night before her wedding on April 29. 2011, in the Royal Suite in the penthouse. This 111-square-meter room, designed by Russell Sage, displays unique royal objects, from handwritten letters to military garb. One of the most curious pieces is the life-size portrait of Queen Victoria, set in the bathroom’s double shower and protected by safety glass.
Eggs and champagne
The hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, headed by chef Richard Galli, has long enjoyed a reputation for reinventing classic British dishes. It is also one of the last London restaurants to serve roast beef ribs on a silver trolley. During their visits, members of the House of Windsor often ordered the famous Drumkilbo eggs, a dish with eggs and lobster. This historic recipe, a favorite of both the Queen Mother and her daughter, Elizabeth II, originated in the kitchens of Drumkilbo House in Perthshire, Scotland. Dining takes place in a very special setting; the room was designed by David Linley and inspired by a famous debutante photograph taken by Cecil Beaton.
The Goring has been perfecting the Afternoon Tea menu since it opened over a century ago; it is topped off with a glass of Bollinger Champagne, Queen Elizabeth’s favorite bubbly. co*cktails are made with more than 100 different herbs harvested from the hotel’s own garden to create signature classics and old favorites, from the Rosehip Royale to the Coronation Cup (with gin and Dubonnet, another of the Queen’s favorites).
Today, the hotel’s most celebrated guest is undoubtedly Barbara the sheep. When they stayed at his property, guests told Otto Goring they felt the peace and calm of a country hotel, due to the beautiful garden and the quiet location in London’s Belgravia district. The Goring’s 41 x 30 square meters (larger than Wimbledon’s center court) is the largest hotel garden in central London, and it is staffed by a full-time gardener. One day, while driving through Devon, Mr. Goring came across the workshop of a craftsman who made wooden sheep from real sheep’s wool. He purchased one, as he felt it gave life to the hotel’s country atmosphere. The guests loved it and Barbara the sheep has been part of the legendary place ever since, from the biggest marketing campaign orchestrated a century ago until now.
But Barbara is not the only illustrious animal at the hotel. In addition to being an international celebrity, Teddy the pony (who has 174,000 followers on his Instagram account) is another of its most beloved occasional visitors. Teddy belongs to the Goring family, and during some seasons he stays in the garden on the first floor. To celebrate his visits, the hotel offers a limited-edition afternoon tea, Teddy the Shetland, which includes delicious pony- and horseshoe-shaped cakes and mini apple pies.
A love for animals runs throughout the hotel’s decoration, as demonstrated by the renovation of the lobby, in the English landscape tradition, by Fromental. The wallpaper depicts animals from the London Zoo escaping into the woods. One more curiosity? Kate Middleton herself was in charge of completing the Lion and Unicorn figures that represent the royal coat of arms.
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