Undeniably British
Standing tall in Mayfair, The Dorchester is a luxury London landmark and home for those who make the world turn. Kathryn Otto speaks to General Manager, Luca Virgilio
The Dorchester has long been a treasured British landmark and boasts an exclusive art collection. Could you talk us through the collection and any favoured pieces?
Since our renovation, we have collaborated with renowned art consultancy VISTO to curate a collection of contemporary works by British-based artists. This collection adorns the hotel’s newly designed interiors by Pierre-Yves Rochon and Martin Brudnizki.
The inspiration for the collection comes from The Dorchester’s prime location, with Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens nearby. The artworks pay tribute to the British landscape tradition, reflecting the country’s rich history of garden and landscape design. This tradition dates back to the 18th century when England’s impressive gardens and manor houses attracted visitors from around the world.
We feel that the art pieces create a seamless narrative throughout the hotel, offering guests a journey through a curated British landscape. Notably, two standout pieces (and also my favourite) are by Sophie Coryndon and Christian Furr. Coryndon’s work transforms the intricate details of a beehive into a golden masterpiece, celebrating the natural world and the hotel’s proximity to Hyde Park. Furr’s painting, on the other hand, depicts a vibrant scene of the Serpentine in Hyde Park, blending reality with imagination.
The collection extends beyond the lobby, enhancing The Promenade, the bars, and the guest rooms, making the entire hotel a canvas of contemporary art.
The hotel boasts a beautiful florist boutique led by designer florist Philip Hammond. What value does Philip and his team add to the overall presentation of The Dorchester?
Philip and his team are extremely valuable to the presentation of the hotel. They worked to create our signature ‘Dorchester Rose’ which our guests love. It’s the perfect rose for The Dorchester, because of its beautiful colour and blousy shape. Seven years in the making, the rose was created by Meijer Roses, a family company with a long tradition of creating the highest quality roses and selected The Dorchester to carry the name of this new variety. To achieve the desired characteristics of the perfect bloom, the research and development team at Meijer tested various blends of their popular existing Avalanche varieties. This specially selected rose is blousy in composition and has a pale blush colouring, with the pink tones developing as the rose opens.
Philip invests so much time in the presentation of the hotel and the lobby especially. We have two large urns on either side of The Promenade which take 3 hours in total to fill, with two team members making and one person directing and passing up flowers to the platform where we make the arrangements. The other arrangements along The Promenade take the other team members approximately 4 hours.
Each suite has its own individual look and feel. Could you tell us the design process and thought behind each suite?
Many of our suites have been renovated with the entirety of the rooms being finalised later this year. To give a more general overview on the process, the interiors have been re-envisioned by design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, who have seamlessly blended the 1930s glamour that runs so deep in our DNA with contemporary edge. The design draws inspiration from our prized position in Mayfair and the charming eccentricities are reflected through a fresh elixir of colours to enhance the heritage of the hotel. The guest experience has been modernised for a residential style of comfort, whilst embracing the defining elements of the property’s past, including British stage designer Oliver Messel’s signature lavish style.
Guests now walk into new light-filled, thoughtfully composed rooms and suites designed in varying colourways inspired by an English garden, from pale leaf green and rose fog pink, to heather blue and lemon yellow. Spanish Alarwool custom woven carpets adorn rooms and corridors, in keeping with the hotel’s signature carpet style, and select suites feature headboards hand-painted by de Gournay. Recognised for its classic English appeal, Colefax and Fowler’s floral fabrics enhance the walls and headboards in all guest rooms.
Our rooms and suites are designed to convey the sense of a luxurious private residence, they represent a decrease from the original 250 keys, which was to account for more spacious accommodation. Guests can now choose from 19 room types ranging from Superior, Deluxe and Executive Park View Rooms to Executive Junior Suites, signature Dorchester Suites, Hyde Park Suites and more. These are in addition to the Oliver Messel Terrace Suite, which is protected by the hotel and retains its 1953 stylish origins.
During your time at the hotel, you will have been a part of many high-profile events and evenings. Are there any memories you can share?
The Dorchester has always been seen as a place where the people who make the world turn come to meet, celebrate and enjoy each other’s company, so we have been fortunate enough to host many impressive events. In the two years since I joined I would say the two events that have stood out to me have been the party we co-hosted with ES and Perfect Magazine during Fashion Week last year to celebrate the reopening of the newly refurbished spaces. It was fun, vibrant and a truly captivating evening with a lot of exciting and glamorous people in attendance. The event was a true testament to our relaunch and revitalised energy we have brought into the hotel. I like to think we underwent not just a renovation but also a rebranding and repositioning and this was the big opening statement of our new chapter. Ever since we have attracted a much younger demographic while of course retaining the people who have loved the hotel across the years. The second one I am particularly attached to was the one we hosted this year in our Ballroom for the Pre-Oscars. It was so well attended and feel we brought some luck as four of the actors and actresses in attendance actually ended up winning Oscars. It was a lovely moment where everyone mingled in a very relaxed way knowing that their privacy was protected.
In 2023, The Dorchester unveiled an extensive refurbishment and was voted London’s best hotel in the Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. What changes were made to improve the hotel?
The newly renovated rooms and suites feature state-of-the-art updates that enhance both comfort and functionality. Among these updates are improvements to the sound proofing, air conditioning, and plumbing systems throughout the hotel. With the addition of new sound-absorbing materials, guests can enjoy a peaceful and tranquil stay without any disturbance from outside noise. The upgraded air conditioning system provides guests with customisable temperature control, ensuring optimal comfort. The modernised plumbing system not only improves functionality but also promotes sustainability, with water-saving technologies and eco-friendly features incorporated into the design.
We also revealed a new ground floor inclusive of the forecourt, garden, lobby, The Promenade, Vesper Bar designed by the legendary Martin Brudnizki, and the Artists’ Bar in January of 2023. The new Cake & Flowers boutique, also designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, followed in March 2023, and The Dorchester Spa in April 2023. The Dorchester’s penthouse suites will be relaunched following renovation, along with a permanent offering on the rooftop later this year.
The hotel celebrated the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 by inviting leading British stage set designer Oliver Messel to decorate the hotel façade and did the same to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation. Was it important for the hotel to celebrate the coronation and what reaction did you get from visitors and the family?
Yes, it was very important for us to celebrate the coronation given the hotel’s rich history with the royal family. King Charles made his first public appearance at The Dorchester in 1970 and has since attended many times for charitable dinners and state banquets. The King’s parents were also very familiar to the hotel, his father HRH Prince Philip held his bachelor party at The Dorchester on the eve of his wedding and HM The Queen visited throughout her reign. The Dorchester has now celebrated three royal coronations, the first in 1937 for King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, where special stands were built on the hotel’s rooftops for spectators to view the procession.
Our guests were thrilled with the celebration of the coronation as it gave them the chance to enjoy not only our façade but also the ‘Sovereign Martini’ inspired by The King’s favourite tipple, an open-air lunch to watch the Red Arrows Flypast on our rooftop, floral arrangements and more. It was such a great time to welcome our guests as they could also experience some of the newly renovated parts of the hotel.
Boasting three Michelin stars, Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester is characterised by its contemporary French haute cuisine and distinctive fresh flavours. What would you recommend from the menu?
It is difficult to find only one dish that is my favourite at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester as Jean Philippe Blondet changes the menu every 45 days. This format keeps the experience exciting and encourages our regulars to keep returning to sample new dishes. Jean-Philippe celebrates the technical brilliance of French cuisine in a collection of characterful dishes. Inspired by the changing seasons and the fresh provenance of his ingredients. I do not have a particularly sweet tooth when it comes to desserts but every time I dine at ADAD, I have to have the Rum Baba. It is without a doubt, the best Rum Baba in the world. If you come to dine here, you cannot miss it.
Hidden in the heart of your kitchens is the Wine Vault, holding over 1000 bottles. Could you tell us about the Wine Vault and the wine tasting evenings you host?
The Wine Vault is a modern and intimate space for a wine tasting for up to 12 guests, the Wine Vault experience is led by our head of wines Jason McAuliffe, who weaves insightful storytelling into each individual journey through some of our most exceptional wines.
The Wine Vault is submerged within our kitchens and adjoins the Chef’s Table where our executive chef creates fully bespoke dining experiences for guests. Almost 1,000 bottles make up the carefully curated collection of wines that line the walls of the Wine Vault. In the centre of the room is a bespoke handcrafted walnut wine tasting table, above which a dramatic light feature emits the optimal light setting required for studying the colour of a wine.
The wine tasting events we host include private wine tastings and masterclasses, wine tasting and food pairing masterclasses and wine dinners from producers across the world.
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