First impressions
The May Fair Hotel is fresh from a costly refurbishment, and the smooth
floors, spanking trendy furniture and smartly dressed staff are still
gleaming. Completed in November 2006, following acquisition of the hotel by
Radisson Edwardian Group from the InterContinental Hotels Group, the
refurbishment saw the décor leap a few decades from inter-war elegance to
glossy contemporary.
The lobby is attractive, with sleek marble and soft leather in greys and black
punctuated by bold pieces of red furniture, and vast red and clear crystal
Baccarat chandeliers. This style continues throughout, and the night I
visited, the bar, which adjoins the lobby, was bustling with well-dressed
patrons, proving that natty décor, imaginative cocktails and mood lighting
is a winner with the Mayfair crowd, as well as hotel guests.
Why it's special
Location sets this hotel apart from other style-conscious properties. Tucked
behind Green Park station, it's a stone's throw from Berkeley Square and Old
and New Bond streets, making it great for up-scale shopping trips or
business travellers visiting colleagues in the area. Other winning features
include unusual pieces of art throughout the hotel, Bang & Olufsen
entertainment systems in every room and ten luxurious suites. Features of
the individually designed suites include a circular bed in one, a hot pink
colour scheme in another and a chauffer-driven Bentley for all suite guests.
Hitting the sack
The 406 bedrooms, including the ten suites, are modern and sleek, although in
my Studio, ostensibly a junior suite, the beige/toffee colour scheme
teetered on the dull, saved only by the striking leather Fendi bed head.
The room had all the normal extras, such as tea and coffee making facilities,
iron and ironing board, safe and bathrobes, plus a few welcome extras such
as free wireless internet access, striking art, including an antique kimono
in a case, and a clear Perspex armchair in the smooth grey marble bathroom.
The hotel may be part of a chain and have over 400 rooms, but that doesn't
mean it lacks individuality. The room count includes eight Studios, with
separate living area, and 11 Al Fresco rooms, which have external decking
and ornamental gardens with outdoor television and private dining.
Sampling the food
Amba Bar and Grill is contemporary again, with comfortable black leather
seating, open kitchen and stark white linen. The menu has seasonal dishes
and local ingredients are emphasised, which included London cured salmon on
my visit, and pork from Yorkshire. The scallop and pate starters, and guinea
fowl and lemon sole mains and were all excellent - cooked perfectly and
fresh (around £33 for three courses without wine). We were also impressed
when the waiter brought hot lemon and honey for my croaking boyfriend to
sooth his sore throat.
We were less impressed with breakfast, which costs £19.50 for a full English
and £15.50 for a continental (there's also an express breakfast of pastries,
toast, tea, coffee and juice for £10). The restaurant was full and service
suffered. My dry, lukewarm scrambled egg was served on a plate that was
splattered with a brown liquid on the underside. The orange juice was not
freshly squeezed and we had to order tea twice. Other guests were also
complaining and it was clear the staff were overwhelmed. Hopefully this is
nothing more than teething troubles as the hotel is still in the first month
of operation.
The May Fair Bar is open for coffee and a light breakfast, but comes into its
own in the evening when the back-lit glass bar, elegant bar stools, lustrous
low-level purple sofas and open fires create a fun atmosphere and attract a
buzzing crowd. It offers over 40 cocktails and a seasonal British menu
served tapas-style.
Access all areas
The hotel has wheelchair access and a number of specifically adapted disabled
rooms on each floor. For deaf guests there are vibrating alarms to alert
them in case of fire.
Added attractions
The hotel has a 201-seat private cinema, which has advanced audio and visual
technology for corporate use and can be booked for private screenings. There
is also a spa, which has ten treatment rooms and offers massages, scrubs and
facials, including the popular micro-dermabrasion facials and non-surgical
facelifts. The spa also has a mud bath in a private steam chamber, a scented
sauna, steam room, relaxation room and a gym.
What we think
A good-looking hotel in a salubrious Mayfair location… shame about the
scrambled egg.
Bottom line
A Standard room starts from £295 per night (excluding tax and breakfast). The
one-bedroom signature suites cost £3,000 per night and the two-bedroom
signature suites cost £5,000 per night.
Need to know
The May Fair Hotel, Stratton Street , London W1J 8LT , tel. 020 7629 7777; www.radissonedwardian.com/londonuk_mayfair;
email: resmayf@radisson.com
