The Savoy

This was a special holiday and a special holiday deserves a special venue. The Savoy was the perfect choice. We were not just celebrating our golden anniversary, it was much more than that. My wife has terminal cancer and though we do not know how much longer she has got storm clouds are definitely gathering. Restricted mobility meant she was mostly confined to the hotel (what a hardship!) though we did venture out once to the theatre and that was in the Savoy Rolls. What a star Victor the chauffeur was - good humoured, entertaining, a superb driver and so solicitous. In the hotel the Savoy provided the invaluable assistance of a wheelchair. Having booked a junior suite we were delighted and grateful to be upgraded to a newly refurbished one bedroomed River View suite. It was nothing short of perfection. A magnificent view, supremely comfortable beds, quality toiletries, plush sofas and chairs and every possible cupboard, drawer, wardrobe, dressing table etc sufficient to accommodate a six month stay. The apartment oozed style and class. We stayed four nights, each time sharing meals with London based friends. Booking restaurant and bar tables was done effortlessly by the team, as was accommodating last minute changes of plan. At every meal the front of house staff achieved a perfect balance between concern and being discreet. They were friendly, knowledgeable and helpful; never were they overbearing or judgemental. The food was of the highest quality. At the Savoy Grill my wife, due to her condition, could not eat much and cheekily our guest asked if the uneaten lamb could be wrapped for her dog. This was done without demur and I am sure there was not a dog in all London that ate better that night nor had a meal so well presented in a stylish Savoy Grill bag. On arrival in our room we were overwhelmed by the free treats on offer - chocolate dipped strawberries, home made bonbons, a bowl of fruit, a jar of home made biscuits and so much more. There was a beautiful anniversary card waiting for us and anniversary greeting treats in the restaurants. Gordon Ramsay even provided complimentary glasses of champagne. In advance the Savoy asked what special room amenities we’d like and all were provided, including scissors to help unwrap anniversary presents. I had a book by my bed; next night a Savoy bookmark was placed on top of it. Room staff were exceptional and as there was an optional 5% gratuity built into the bill there was no awkwardness about whether to tip staff, when or how much. There is no getting away from it, the Savoy is not cheap and 5% added to the bill is a lot of money but I just factored it into the price of the holiday and was very grateful to have a 10% discount through being an Accor member. As this is highly likely to be our last ever holiday I wrote to several celebrities my wife admires asking if they’d be kind enough to write to her at the Savoy with a goodwill message in her final days. Most replied, usually with heartfelt words. My wife was overwhelmed by this surprise. Coordinating the collection and delivery of letters fell to the concierge team and we were blessed to be allocated Isaac. He was a huge hit with all our guests and, even more so, with us. Discretion runs through the veins of Savoy staff so it is no good trying to pump him for the peccadilloes of the famous. He gave nothing away. What he did give was his undivided attention. The holiday arrangements worked perfectly and Isaac was the hub of this faultless efficiency. I want to say we will return but my wife’s deteriorating health means we won’t. What cannot be taken away is a plethora of memories that will stay with me forever. We chose well.

The Savoy really is the crème de la crème. Everyone we encountered was friendly, helpful, and made us feel truly looked after. Big shout-out to Rosaline in the dining room — she was outstanding. Warm, professional, and just one of those people who completely gets what great service is all about. She really stood out and made our experience even more special. We loved our stay — from start to finish it was faultless. Just one tip: make sure to ask for a refurbished room. Ours was beautifully done and made the stay even better.

Another excellent stay, each time we visit the experience gets better and better, the american bar had a young man playing the piano who made it very relaxing, waiter was attentive to our needs for drinks, breakfast was delicious and couldn't complain about anything, recommend the The Savoy breakfast! Thanks to all staff including Tony the doorman who make every visit memorable,

Afternoon tea was faultless, with unlimited tea and goodies. Staff fantastic very efficient, friendly and caring. A very relaxed atmosphere with sharp attention to detail, just what you need for that special occasion.

Amazing service and staff were just the best. Totally recommend and worth the extra investment as the service is of unparalleled comparison. Currently continuing my Fairmont journey in Canada . Fairmont Banf springs and Lake Louise done currently in Fairmont Jasper before heading to Fairmont Oacific Rim, were their cocktail bar is supposed to be as good as Savoys American Bar, that was class and the cocktails outstanding. Looking forward to forward to our return to the Savoy in December.