Georgian Grandeur and English Heritage

This month LUX had the pleasure of staying at The Arch London, a luxurious 82-room boutique hotel located in Great Cumberland Place. Named in the TripAdvisor 2017 Travellers’ Choice Awards as one of the UK’s top 20 luxury hotels, we were keen to see what all the fuss was about.

Independent and family owned, The Arch London offers an intimate laid-back sanctuary amongst the hustling, bustling London streets. The hotel is very much a feature of the local neighbourhood and spans seven Grade II listed townhouses and two mews homes.

Perfectly positioned to accommodate guests travelling on business and pleasure, the hotel is an ideal north-but-central London base. For connectivity, the hotel rests within easy reach of the A40 and Euston, Paddington & Marylebone stations. For those after quiet reflection; the urban oases of Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill are just a short stroll away. And as well as the usual central London spots, it’s a great base for exploring a little further out.

The hotel blends what they call “Georgian grandeur and English heritage” in a luxurious and modern setting. Supporting emerging British artists, there are some fabulous installations throughout and the design is bold, contemporary and individual.

All the rooms showcase luxury fabrics, wallpapers and amenities. We were lucky enough to enjoy the comfort of an Executive Junior Suite and in addition to more space, the suite gave us an in-room sitting area with lovely city views, an ensuite bathroom with a large soaking tub and TV, a complimentary soft drink mini-bar and gorgeous Malin & Goetz beauty products.

The service is immaculate yet understated; the concierge team, check-in and waiting staff were equally attentive and being independent they have a bit more flexibility to offer above-and-beyond services that guests truly appreciate. They have a unique dog-friendly policy which extends to providing luxury fur-lined dog beds, specialist canine menus and fur and body wash! There is a full-purpose gym exclusively for guest use and there are two specialist drink lounges, one for champagne and one for martinis; of course, we had to sample both!

Hunter 486, the hotel’s aptly named restaurant is a nice little throwback to the 1950’s Marylebone dialling code. The menu centres on seasonal, modern British cuisine and it does this exceptionally. It was quiet as we sat down to eat, however we’d just missed the rush of the early show-going diners, taking advantage of the popular theatre menu.

The stunning design journey continues into the restaurant and the open plan kitchen meant that we were entertained as we waited, watching the chefs prepare our meal. The restaurant window looks out to one of those classic London mews streets, a nice reminder of our location. It’s a relaxed and romantic setting for dinner and drinks alike.

Head Chef, Gary Durrant crafted the menu around classic items such as Fish & Chips, simple yet effective! There are a range of menus to support the hotel’s various clientele; private dining, set menus, afternoon tea, bar and buffet food and a quirky bowl food menu offering a unique take on tapas.

It was clear from our short visit that The Arch London is getting it right. There is no shortage of excellent hotels in London, however here lies a superb team, an outstanding venue and a little bit of the ‘je ne sais quoi’ that despite best efforts, can often be amiss in the competitive world of hospitality.

Born from a zest for travel and the finer things in life, Best Loved Hotels is a unique collection of independent hotels, each of which is loved for its own individual style and character. For over 20 years, discerning travellers have trusted Best Loved to recommend places, which they will not only love but which will best suit them and their needs.