London is the location of some of the world’s most luxurious and expensive hotels. One of these hotels is the world famous Savoy Hotel which was built in 1889 and since then has become one of the city’s most symbolic accommodation establishment.
The hotel is located on the Strand one of London’s main thoroughfares, in the City of Westminster in the central parts of the English capital. The hotel was built by prominent English talent agent, theatrical impresario and composer Richard D`Oyly Carte and was the first hotel of the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants which was owned by the Carte family for over a century.
The hotel was the first luxury hotel in the United Kingdom to be built with electrical light throughout the edifice, private bathrooms in the most affluent rooms of the establishment and electric lifts. The Savoy was also the first hotel in Britain to have constant cold and hot running water. Upon its completion the hotel was the most modern and up to date accommodation establishment in the United Kingdom and maybe Europe.
Once opened, Richard D`Oyly Carte hired Cesar Ritz (founded of the high-end Ritz Hotels) a Swiss hotel manager to manage the Savoy and establish an unprecedented standard of quality which in the upcoming years become the benchmark for all high-end luxury hotels in the world. Carte also hired French chef Auguste Escoffier for the hotel’s restaurant. The chef quickly gained to the Savoy Restaurant the status of a first-class place to eat which attracted notable guests on a frequent basis. It is known that Winston Churchill often took his cabinet to have lunch at the Savoy.
Since its opening the hotel has been the scene of numerous famous entertainers such as the Savoy Orpheans and the Savoy Havana Band who gained international fame and made the hotel Carte’s most successful venture. George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Noel Coward, Enrico Caruso, Charlie Chaplin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles are some of the most famous guest performers that have performed in the Savoy throughout the years.
Today the hotel is no longer owned and managed by the Carte Family. Instead it is managed by the Canadian Fairmont Hotels and Resorts Company. The current capacity of the hotel is 268 rooms and is often described as the most prestigious and opulent hotel in London. In 2007 the Savoy was closed for a total of three years due to a major renovation project. The hotel was reopened in 2010 and is presently listed as a Grade II building.
If you have recently relocated to the City of Westminster via the aid of a man and van company, make sure that you visit this amazing building once you have unpacked and arranged your new home. Don’t worry that you won’t be able to find a good moving company to lend you a hand with your move because the area is home to some of the finest man and van companies not only in London but the entire country.
If your financial status allows you, you should definitely spend at least a night at the hotel or at least dine once in the hotel’s amazing restaurant.
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About the Author:
Kim Jacobs
Kim Jacobs is a removals coordinator with over 11 years of experience as part of the Get man and van team and other firms in the home and office relocation industry in London. Before joining our company, Kim has worked in various logistical and transportation companies and institutions such as Transport for London, The Removals Ombudsman, and has coordinated moving projects with some of the biggest suppliers of various goods such as IKEA, HomeBase, Amazon, Sainsbury's and others. While working as a chief removals coordinator, Kim also enjoys sharing her expertise with others through writing in our blog.
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