The company I used to work for a few years ago used to have our yearly Christmas party at the Berkeley, so while I worked for them we had three Christmas parties at the same hotel. The reason for this is simply because their service was absolutely impeccable and every time was an amazing evening to remember… It also happens that every year we used to have a Christmas raffle, where people used to win gifts, and during my last party I actually won the first price which was a night at the Berkeley which was offered by the hotel itself! So, because of my various experiences with them, I will try to make this review as detailed as possible.
While some people might find celebrating the Christmas party at the same venue slightly boring, we all actually thought of this as a beautiful event we could not wait to attend. While working for that company I organized 3 of the parties and have to confess that their management is absolutely delightful and they try to please you in every way and try to accommodate all sorts of requests. Booking in advance is essential,especially if you have a specific date in mind. In relation to costs I can tell you that an average per head could have been around £120 per person and that excluding wines and champagne.
THE CHRISTMAS PARTY EXPERIENCE ********** The evening was absolutely magical, all the ladies had their hair up and wore their brand new ballgown or evening dress… you would be very posh if you arrived in a black cab, but some like me had to make their way ,unlike Cinderellla, in the London underground totally dressed up and under the eyes of curious passengers. The entrance is not as majestic as you would expect but as soon as you come in the relaxing sound of some classical music brings you in another dimention, and the cold air which was making you freeze seconds before just melts away. The place is obviously loaded with pictures and marble as you would expect from a five star hotel and someone smiles at you as if you have been expected and quickly shows you to the cloak room and carry on straight away following the red carpet to join the ante-room filled with golden fittings, huge mirrors and soft lighting plus massive windows with huge long curtains. The waiters go round offering a choice of champagne or orange juice and your glass is never empty which really makes things tricky as you start loosing count on how much you are drinking… very dangerous… When everyone is gathered the head waiter comes in and announces in a loud voice that dinner will be served, two huge doors open and voila'…. Another huge room reveals itself, called The Ballroom with big round tables perfectly set up with shiny glasses and immaculate china. We all sit down listen to the usual speeches which then are quickly followed by very quick but still very silent waiters who start serving the starters and pour wine and water in your glasses. All goes absolutely smoothly, never a complaint. The starter is followed by a main course and then a dessert choice, usually a chocolate mousse and a meringue. On top of everything dinner is completed with coffee and some petit fours, some creations made of chocolates which are absolutely beautiful to see but even more to eat!
Once dinner has finally ended we used to have the usual raffle followed by a dj (not a teenager but usually a middle aged man grey haired with an exceptional good knowledge of old tracks ie. Abba.. But not really into what goes in the House… if you see what I mean…
As sad as it may sound even the "toilet experience" was grand! You really feel like a princess… the cubicles are a decent size and if you want to powder your nose you can sit down on the posh stools in front of their huge mirrors. Needless saying their hand soap was not Imperial leather (although the name could have applied) but Floris is a must and they also have small single use towels rather than recycled grey paper… definitely much softer on the skin… The eveing finishes at around 11:30, while some people carry on partying somewhere else, some wobbly Cinderellas (not sure if because of the drink or the high stilettoes..) start making their way back to normality… starting with catching the underground to get home. For me five out of five!!
ROOM EXPERIENCE ********** As mentioned earlier I won a room for a night, it was a double room so thought it was too rude not to share it with my boyfriend (at the time). The view outside the window was not breathtaking (oh well… can't have everything), but the view of a bottle of complimentary Veuve Cliquot champagne made up for it!! Oh.. How amazing… It might sound a bit sad but it is not every day I end up having a five star room so I had to take pictures with my camera to remind me of how luxury can induce a good night sleep… Made a run to the bathroom to find a huge deep bath (no jacuzzi…) and a range of products from Floris which included some gorgeous bath salts. Apart from the immaculate white towels there were also two robes, so sipping champagne, sitting in the bed, watching Tv in a soft cuddly robe. And now two important comments, the bed and the breakfast. The bed was a king size, quite high to climb and with the most hard but at the same time soft mattress, I think the best I have ever experienced in my life. The linen was white made of thick cotton but soft to the touch, may be my Primark sheets were not that much of a bargain, still I get a free body scrub every night… Falling asleep meant just being swallowed by this soft marshmallow bed… absolute bliss…
Before falling asleep we decided to hang our breakfast requests outside the door… all was free so to be honest with you we just ordered all we could as if we could not afford eating for the following two days, I know it was very uncool but how could you say no? When the morning comes someone knocks at the door announcing the goodies - sorry I meant breakfast - is ready. A very nice waiter pulls a trolley with a white cloth covered with all sorts, from pastries to scrambled egg, fruit to fresh juice, coffee, tea, english breakfast, kippers, toast… jams in little cute Bon Maman jars. Of course I could not eat all so I lower my head down in shame… I confess I made mysellf a goodie bag to bring any leftovers home...
Another five out of five!
FURTHER INFORMATION ********** The Berkeley hotel is situated in Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RL, the closest underground station is Hyde Park Corner but Knightsbridge (both on the Piccadilly line) would still get you close enough. They do have a rather famous bar called The bue Bar (apparently Madonna seems to like it) and three restaurants: Petrus, Boxwood Café and The Caramel Room.
For more information you can navigate through their website www.the-berkeley.co.uk their website is quite nice and it is very easy to access info you might need, inclusive of email addresses and phone numbers of managers to relative departments. The Berkeley has of course a gym, a beauty salon and caters for weddings, parties and business meetings/ conferences. If you check their pictures in the website they are absolutely breathtaking. The good thing is that the website also has a link with special offers so you can make a little luxury a little more affordable than what you think.
MY OPINION ********** I absolutely loved the whole experience and wished I could do this some time soon, we all need some pampering now and again.
To be honest with you as I did not pay for the room I could not say how much this was (3 years ago), all I can tell you is that with mother's day coming I am sure this could be a beautiful present to follow perhaps an evening at the theatre in the west end or a gorgeous dinner somewhere.
(Mums you can't say I did not try! :-)
Thanks for reading! x
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Quality of Facilities
Excellent
Family Friendly
Excellent
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