The Stafford
| The Stafford LondonBold text | |
|---|---|
  Location within Central London | |
| General information | |
| Location | 16-18 St James's Place, St James's, London, England |
| Coordinates | 51°30′20.7″N 0°8′25.9″W / 51.505750°N 0.140528°WCoordinates: 51°30′20.7″N 0°8′25.9″W / 51.505750°N 0.140528°W |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 107 |
| Website | |
| www.thestaffordlondon.com | |
The Stafford London is a 5-star boutique hotel in St. James’s, London, England.
The Stafford is amongst the most historical and exclusive hotels in London, and is known for its intimate ambiance and unique air of classic Britishness.
The Stafford boasts 107 uniquely designed rooms, a 380 year old wine cellar, an American Bar, a small museum, a private cobbled courtyard and British restaurant, The Game Bird, which opened in 2017 to critical acclaim.
16-18 St. St James's Place were originally built as private residences in the 17th Century. Number 17 was owned by Lord and Lady Lyttelton, the latter of whom was the daughter of the then Earl Spencer. With the addition of number 18 in 1912, The Stafford Hotel was completed as it exists today.
The hotel belongs to a handful of hotels in London to achieve 5 AA Red Star status.
It has been ranked in the top 20 hotels in London in the 2017 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice awards.
History
The Stafford was founded as a hotel in 1912, but its existence goes back to the 17th Century, when its buildings were private residences.
17th – 19th Century
Numbers 16-18 St James’s Place were originally built as private residences in the 17th century. Number 17, most famously owned by Lord and Lady Lyttelton, remained in the family until 1849 when Lady Lyttelton, daughter of the then Earl Spencer, was pressed into service as nanny to Queen Victoria’s children.
1850 – 1912
In the years that followed, the house changed hands many times, becoming the Richmond Club Chambers, Green's Private Hotel and St James's Palace Hotel. The Stafford Club, originally housed in number 18, was added in 1886, and in 1912, the hotel was extended to include number 16; The Stafford Hotel was born.
1939 – 1945
During the Second World War, The Stafford served as a club for American and Canadian officers stationed overseas. This led to the formation of the Better 'Ole Club whose membership comprises guests recognized for services above and beyond the call of duty to The Stafford; one of its most famous members is HRH the Prince of Wales.
1947 – 1994
In 1947 Costain, headed by Sir Richard Costain, purchased the hotel and in 1985 it was sold to Trafalgar House, to complement their ownership of the Ritz and Cunard Cruise Lines. Cunard oversaw the development of the world-famous Carriage House rooms in the late 1980s and established the hotel as a favourite with North American visitors.
1995 – 2009
In 1995, the hotel was bought by Daniel Thwaites plc, a family-controlled Lancashire based brewery. The hotel underwent a program of continual reinvestment, including a six-month closure for major refurbishment in 1996 and an annual spend of over £1 million on redecorating and replacing fabrics and furniture. In 2007 the ‘all suite’ Stafford Mews building was opened.
2009–present
In 2009, The Stafford was purchased by Britannia Hospitality Limited and in 2010 it became part of the Kempinski Hotels collection. In 2014 The Stafford redirected its focus, moved away from Kempinski and was accepted into membership of The Preferred Hotel Group. In 2017 a multimillion-pound redesign took place of the Stafford’s Carriage House suites, which were once the former stables of British nobleman and politician, Lord Francis Godolphin. In collaboration with designer Alexandra Champalimaud the suites were enhanced with a chic countryside look. In March 2017 The Stafford launched its new restaurant The Game Bird, overseen by Executive Chef, James Durrant, which opened to critical acclaim.
The Game Bird
In March 2017 The Stafford opened its new restaurant The Game Bird, a luxury restaurant focused on modern British cooking.
The restaurant specialises in Game dishes, such as Grouse, Pigeon, Partridge and Mallard. The menu also features British classics, such as Steak and Ale Steamed Suet Pudding, Venison Stew, a Sunday Roast and Lyle’s Golden Syrup Sponge.
The restaurant also displays artwork from Britain’s leading young artists. A piece that has garnered particular attention has is the painting Afternoon Tea with the Queen by Carne Griffiths, which was hand-finished with tea and whiskey from The Game Bird. The Game Bird restaurant has been well received in the London dining scene, with critics such as Giles Coren from The Times and Jay Rayner from The Guardian writing reviews.
Rooms
The Stafford has 107 different rooms in three separate buildings.
Main house
The 68 rooms in the Main House, the former London residence of Lord and Lady Lyttelton, are a reflection of this historical period. The rooms are adorned with rich fabrics, period furnishings and four poster beds blending the Victorian grandeur of the Lyttleton era with contemporary modernity.
Mews Suites
The 26 Mews Suites are located in a separate building with a private entrance and lobby, offering the convenience of your own private apartment. The suites are decorated in a timeless luxurious style by British designer Jane Goff. The Penthouse Suite enjoys views over the rooftops of Mayfair and the skyline of London from its own private terrace.
Carriage House Suites
The 13 Carriage House rooms and suites are located within a historic Grade II listed building, overlooking the private cobbled courtyard. The recently renovated rooms and suites have been decorated with an upscale countryside ambiance by New York designer Alexandra Champalimaud. These suites include the two bedroom townhouse, The Gatehouse, which can be booked as a junior suite, one bedroom suite or the full three story, two bedroom suite.
The American Bar
The Stafford is renowned for The American Bar, which is one of the most unique cocktail bars in London due to its large collection of memorabilia. Every wall and surface is covered with an intriguing collection of artefacts, knick-knacks and signed celebrity photographs donated by patrons and guests over the years. The American Bar also has a private cobbled courtyard for al fresco dining opportunities.
During the 1930s most West End hotels in London renamed their bar ‘The American Bar’ in an attempt to attract the business of the increasing numbers of North American visitors. These intrepid travellers brought with them such exotic drinks such as Manhattans, Sidecars and Martinis, which the bar is famous for. Most hotels have renamed their bars yet The American Bar at the Stafford remains one of only two in London that have retained the name.
Throughout its existence the bar has only known 3 Bar Managers, who have each enjoyed long service in the American Bar. The current manager is Benoit Provost, who replaced Charles Guano after his 42-year serving at The American Bar.
Memorabilia
The American Bar’s collection of memorabilia started when an American guest gave Bar Manager, Charles Guano a small wooden carving of an American eagle. Shortly after, a Canadian guest gifted him a small model of an Eskimo. Subsequently, an Australian presented a model of a kangaroo and this is how the collection started to expand. Today, every available wall and surface is crammed with an intriguing collection of artefacts, knick-knacks and signed celebrity photographs. The ceiling is hung with a colourful collection of club ties, sporting mementoes and baseball caps.
Nancy Wake
Nancy Wake was an eccentric female spy, who frequented the American Bar of The Stafford during WWII and who resided at the hotel during her final years.
Nancy was the Allies’ most highly decorated servicewoman of WWII, and on the Gestapo’s most-wanted list with a five million-franc price on her head. They code-named her ‘The White Mouse’ because of her ability to elude capture. When war broke out she was a young woman married to a wealthy Frenchman living a life of luxury in cosmopolitan Marseilles. She became a saboteur, organiser and Resistance fighter who led an army of 7,000 Maquis troops in guerrilla warfare to sabotage the Nazis.
In 2001 Nancy became a full-time resident at The Stafford. In the mornings she would usually be found in The American Bar, sipping her first gin and tonic of the day. Nancy celebrated her ninetieth birthday at the hotel, and in 2003, when she chose to move to the Royal Star and Garter Home for Disabled Ex-Service Men and Women, in Richmond, London, the hotel owners absorbed most of the costs of her stay at The Stafford London. Nancy Wake died on 7 August 2011.
Wine Cellars
The Stafford is home to 380-year-old Wine Cellars, which are thought to be the oldest wine cellars in London. The cellars house over 8000 bottles of the world’s finest wines and Champagnes, including many rare and precious vintages and a selection of Armagnac, port and single malt whiskies, some dating back to the 1920s.
The cellars are overseen by Master Sommelier, Gino Nardella, who is one of only 236 in the world who have been granted the title of Master Sommelier. Gino has worked at The Stafford for 41 years and has handpicked each bottle himself.
History
The Wine Cellars were built in the 17th Century by Lord Francis Godolphin. It is reputed that certain doorways led directly to the palace of St James’s, which was the original home of the British monarchy right up until the time of Queen Victoria. Much later in their history, the cellars housed the famous Madame Prunier wine shipping company and acted as an air-raid shelter during WWII.
Museum
The cellars host an informal museum, where some of the artefacts left behind in wartimes by American and Canadian officers during their time in the hotel are displayed. The last remaining casket and wine corking machinery are also on show in the main chamber of the cellars.
Madame Prunier
During WWII Simone Prunier, a formidable restaurateur in Paris and London, housed her collection of wine in the cellars of The Stafford London to ensure that they were safe and that there was a regular supply of fine wines for her clientele.
Employees
The Stafford has some noteworthy employees that are renowned for their long-standing service.
Frank Laino
Frank Laino is Executive Head Concierge. Frank is a proud member of the Clefs D’Or and holder of The Golden Keys. Of Italian descent, Frank is a born and bred Londoner, and has worked as a Concierge in the city for more than 20 years, with 19 years at The Stafford. Through his extensive network of local and international contacts, Frank relishes the opportunity to turn even the most obscure requests into reality. Frank has also created an insider’s tour of St. James’s, which is a tour of unusual and secret places in the area. Frank’s dedication to his role has seen him be named Best Concierge in the World four times.
Gino Nardella
Gino Nardella is the Master Sommelier at The Stafford. He nurtures the bottles in the cellars and runs informative wine tastings. Gino became a member of the prestigious and internationally recognised Court of Master Sommeliers in 1979, becoming the 67th in the world, having reached the highest level of proficiency and knowledge at a very young age. Gino spent his childhood on the family owned vineyard in Southern France and accumulated 40 years of experience in Italy, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Languedoc and the UK. He joined The Stafford London in 1976.
Benoit Provost
Benoit Provost is the Bar Manager of The American Bar. Benoit trained at the Lycée Professional catering school in St Nazaire for five years before travelling around Europe. He joined The Stafford London in 1993, planning to stay for a year to improve his English, but he proved to be so popular with hotel guests, that he never left. Ben became Bar Manager in 1997, replacing the late and beloved Charles Guano, who had served for 42 years at The Stafford London.