There could be no finer base for a trip to view the newly opened Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace (until 18 October) than The Goring in Belgravia; proud to have regularly welcomed Her Majesty, who referred to the hotel as her ‘neighbour’ and granted The Goring the prestige of a Royal Warrant in 2013.
Coupled with the hotel’s association with the British royal family, The Goring is the only five star establishment in London still owned and run by the founding family, something which has lent it legendary status. Designed by the renowned architect John Evelyn Trollope and welcoming their first guests in 1910, The Goring was the only hotel in the world to offer the then unimaginable luxury of central heating throughout and an ‘en suite’ bathroom for each of the bedrooms.
Otto R. Goring was only a few months into his new role of hoteliership when King Edward VII passed away, marking the end of the elegant ‘Edwardian’ era, although the hotel still retains a sense of gilded Edwardianism which is apparent the moment you arrive, from the Union Jack flags adorning the frontage to the ‘footmen’ dressed in striking red, gold-buttoned tailcoats who wouldn’t be out of place at nearby Buckingham Palace.
London may have changed dramatically since The Goring opened its doors during the final days of King Edward VII’s reign, but this hotel only seems to improve with age. A large part of that is the dedicated team who have served here, not least the charismatic Managing Director, David-Morgan-Hewitt, who has been at The Goring for over 30 years, while Otto Goring’s great-grandson Jeremy Goring was appointed CEO in 2005, having already worked at some of the hotel industry’s most respected companies including Four Seasons and Rosewood Hotels & Resorts.
Where every guest receives the same service as royalty and all the comforts of an extremely plush private residence, The Goring unites aristocratic luxury with intimacy, and is not only one of the most exclusive hotels in the world due to its impressive history and reputation, but has become a beacon of a London which would otherwise be relegated to history, given that the capital’s other great establishments are owned by international groups with ‘portfolios’ of properties; operated with a vulgar commercialism which has eroded their unique personality and aura of discreet ‘Britishness’. It shows, in every beautiful detail, that the management at The Goring is focused on The Goring, and nothing but.
It seems rather a ubiquitous kind of luxury if a guest can’t be absolutely certain where they are in the world on lifting their head from the pillow in the morning. Guests of The Goring need only see the soft toy sheep on the bed to know precisely. Introduced by the late George Goring after a trip to Devon, they became instantly popular with guests (especially the younger ones) and continue to offer a touch of whimsicality to each of the 69 rooms well appointed rooms and suites emphasising the hotel’s traditional country house atmosphere.
Having welcomed every British prime minister since they opened, with Winston Churchill holding meetings at The Goring during World War II, when it comes to more recent history, Catherine, Princess of Wales checked into The Goring’s palatial one bedroom penthouse Royal Suite ahead of her marriage to Prince William in April 2011; an event watched by over two billion people worldwide and which put the hotel firmly on the map when she departed for Westminster Abbey on the morning of the wedding. Despite their illustrious guests, The Goring keeps paparazzi away for the most part, and one wonders if the tabloids regard the hotel with a certain wary respect as if it were an extension of Buckingham Palace, which indeed it would appear on the lead-up to any state occasions when a fleet of British aristocrats, royalty and dignitaries check-in.
For anyone keeping a low profile, there will be no desire to leave the premises thanks to the elegant Cocktail Bar serving the garden terrace during the warmer months and Michelin-starred dining. A five-month multi-million-pound redesign of The Dining Room saw it reopen in 2024, delighting regular guests and enticing a new audience. This year marks the 10th anniversary of The Dining Room first receiving a Michelin star, now retained by Executive Chef Graham Squire, who first joined as Head Chef in 2019 with an impressive CV including Claridge’s and Raymond Blanc’s renowned Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. A master at showcasing seasonal British produce, Squire’s exquisite dishes are entirely in keeping with the setting and incorporate his own brand of British culinary nostalgia so as to make a fine dining experience at The Goring an extremely memorable one. His clever reimagining of the late Queen Mother’s favourite Eggs Drumkilbo is fit for a queen indeed; featuring hand-picked white crab, quail’s egg and native lobster before being finished with caviar at the table, it’s hardly surprising that this is The Dining Room’s most-requested dish.
Squire’s cookery is a proclamation of quality British produce and his ability to do full justice to it, whether it’s the Rhug Estate fallow deer pie, Longhorn beef Wellington with slow-cooked short rib, or the impeccably prepared Dover sole, filleted tableside and served with confit Hayselden potato, warm tartare and crispy beer-batter scraps. You’d be wise to arrive at The Dining Room with a hearty appetite so as to take advantage of the British cheese trolley in addition to dessert, for you don’t want to miss either. Squire takes the opportunity to celebrate beloved ‘afters’; refining them to Michelin level with great imagination like the Madagascan vanilla rice pudding with sloe gin plum and gingerbread.
Featuring luxuriously-upholstered seating, opulent botanical-print wallpaper in a dark lime shade, gilt-framed art and windows on two sides, The Dining Room is a destination dining venue regardless of whether or not you’re staying at The Goring. Serving breakfast, lunch, pre-theatre and dinner, if you’re fortunate enough to be a hotel resident, you’ll see the room transform from a romantic, low-lit restaurant in the evening to a joyful, garden-styled room come the morning offering diners the most glamorous place to enjoy smoked salmon and scrambled eggs in London.
Another unmissable Goring tradition is taking afternoon tea at The Veranda, a conservatory-styled restaurant overlooking the garden, which was bursting with tulips during our stay and where a sculpture of founder Otto Goring peeps from the shrubbery; his smile announcing his pleasure on finding that his legacy not only continues but flourishes. A limited edition ‘Her Life in Style’ Afternoon Tea is currently being served to coincide with the new Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style exhibition, with a tempting selection of patisserie inspired by the late Queen’s most iconic fashion styles; a wonderful way to experience the hotel’s charm for the first time or, as in our case, conclude what had been a truly majestic stay.
The Goring, 15 Beeston Place, London SW1W 0JW. For more information and reservations, please visit the website.
