Timeless elegance is a quality that is tough to manufacture. Hotels either have it – or they haven’t. With its location in one of London’s most exclusive post- codes, this Mayfair favourite – a popular destination for UAE nationals – The Sheraton Grand Park Lane has to deliver on expectations. We are here to show you how…
Read our review of the timeless Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
For the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane it comes courtesy of a classic past with its heart in the “Roaring Twenties”. Something forged in Art Deco styling that has been earnestly preserved and is celebrated from its majestic façade to the 303 guest rooms and suites.
The Sheraton Grand is positioned opposite a celebrated green oasis in the capital, Royal Green Park, and occupies a prime
position on one of London’s best-known streets. Five-star hospitality, stylish decor and classic detailing define this iconic hotel, originally opened in 1927.
A distinguishably dressed doorman in a long coat and black hat hints at the opulence within – and so often missing from newer hotels.
Guest rooms and public spaces have since undergone renovation that has been careful to retain the original elements of Art Deco glamour. They inform the historical nuances and give a sense of charismatic escape from modern London’s foibles.
Elaborately patterned carpets, decadent furnishing, statement lighting and even clock-like illuminated lift level counters all conspire to transport you to a different era.
This is at its most evident in Palm Court, an opulent open lounge for dining and the scene for the Sheraton Grand’s renowned afternoon tea.
Complete with marble floor, tapestries, ceiling details and an original ‘20s bar that could form the set of a Mayfair historical costume drama, it’s easy to imagine some of the elegantly attired folks that will have passed through here down the decades.
Native Italian flavours inform the dining mission at Mercante, an adjacent outlet for breakfast, but also serving lunch and dinner via a menu that is influenced and kept agile by market availability.
This can be enjoyed inside in the casual, sensitively themed main restaurant area or seated on the south-facing pavement terrace across from the park.
A distinctive copper wall and more retro styling give Smith & Whistle a standout look. The wine list there includes some English varieties and dishes paired with British artisan beers. A dog-friendly bar, it even tenders a permanent drinks list created entirely for canine visitors.
Club Room and Suite guests also get access to the Sheraton Club Lounge, located on the ground floor.
This calm and comfortable space serves complimentary breakfast as well as drinks and canapés throughout the day and is a great area in which to unwind with newspapers or catch the TV news.
This is also where you’ll discover the ZZZ-list, a specially curated library designed to help guests get the best night’s
sleep – including many titles chosen specifically for Middle Eastern guests.
The innovative hotel partnered with Hatchards, the oldest bookseller in London, along with a sleep expert and chartered
psychologist to assemble the one-of-a-kind collection of 30 scientifically selected fiction and non-fiction books to ease travellers into a peaceful slumber. Titles follow a unique set of guidelines, such as use of short sentences and concluding chapters meeting the brain’s desire for completeness and can be read in the comfort of the lounge or in your room.
“A leading theory suggests that sleep may provide the brain with an opportunity to ‘rebalance’ itself,” says expert Dr David Lewis. “Falling asleep in a bed that isn’t your own can be difficult and the ever growing use of smartphones and tablet computers during evening hours can cause sleep disturbances – meaning those staying in a hotel can sometimes find it harder to get to sleep.”
However, add a tome from the ZZZ-list to that the ‘Sheraton Signature Sleep Experience’, featuring innovative bedding and
fragrance collections, and you should be all set. “We are lucky enough to have a number of international guests, so it was really important for us that the ZZZ-list included stories relevant to all cultures,” says hotel General Manager Justin Pinchbeck of some of the book choices.
The iconic hotel is a favourite with GCC visitors, not least UAE families, who comprised plenty of the guests during our stay.
Justin says the hotel has a “loyal base of Emirati regulars” and the Sheraton Grand recently ran a month-long promotion to
mark Emirati Women’s Day.
“The GCC is one of our strongest markets,” continues the GM. “Not only are we located in Mayfair, one of the most sought-
after destinations of GCC guests – renowned for its luxury shopping and restaurants and overlooking Green Park – our property is also fully equipped to welcome Middle Eastern guests, ensuring they feel right at home.”
Certainly, as well as offering the perfect sanctuary from the bustle and noise of the capital, the Sheraton Grand is an ideal launchpad from which to explore one of London’s primary luxury shopping districts.
And while cabs are plentiful, when the weather allows you are within easy wander of the boutiques of Bond Street or a healthy longer stroll to bustling tourist thoroughfares and hotspots such as Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street and Leicester Square.
Within a few minutes you can be coveting the latest gems in Tiffany’s or taking in world-class sculptures at the Royal
Academy of Art. And as members of the elite “Les Clefs d’Or”, the Sheraton Grand’s concierge staff is well drilled in helping to ensure memorable experiences for guests – including pointing them in the right direction of London’s landmarks.
You’ll also find them something of a fountain of knowledge for everything from dinner reservations and theatre tickets to
transportation, floral arrangements and golf tee times. As the first Sheraton Grand in London, the Sheraton Grand London Park Lane is part of a select portfolio of 42 of the finest Sheraton hotels around the world.
To find out more about room grades, availability and prices at the hotel, simply click on Sheraton Grand London Park Lane.
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