JUMEIRAH LOWNDES HOTEL-

CLASSY LIVING IN LONDON

By Michael Hepworth

The Jumeirah Group based out of Dubai are determined to become a major player in the International market and not just Dubai, where their flagship Hotel is the amazing Burj Al Arab Hotel.  With expansions already in New York and London, and with up to fifty new hotels/resorts in the planning, their future ascendancy looks assured.  Immediate projects include those in Dubai, Aqaba, Doha, Phuket, Shangha, Bermuda and London.

Situated in fashionable Belgravia village where small flats can cost up to $1 million, a recent stay at the Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel can be loosely described as an urban sanctuary with a warm relaxed atmosphere.  My visit in December when the weather was wet and cold, meant that the temperature in the hotel was very warm and slightly stuffy, probably better however than a hotel where the heating breaks down in the winter. However the service could not be faulted, and I will certainly consider the hotel near the top of my list when planning any trip back to London.  Walking around the area is a delight, with Harrods and Harvey Nichols so close, and all the trendy designer shops and boutiques on Sloane Street that seem oblivious to any financial woes that may be happening in the global economy.

The interior of the hotel was designed by UK designer Hunt Hamilton Zuch, and the 87 rooms and suites have recently undergone a massive $17 million refurbishment, with flat screen televisions, DVD players, high speed internet standard amenities.  All beds are King sized with a mattress topper, and provide coffee and tea making facilities. There are four one-bedroom Executive Suites on the sixth floor, two of them with balconies overlooking leafy Belgravia. There is also a lavish Luxury Suite with one bedroom and two bathrooms on the fifth floor.

All the colors of the rooms are soft such as green and lilacs, taupe and burgundy and ivory ice blue, mixed up with stone bathrooms and some very subtle artwork.  For each bathroom, the Jumeirah has partnered with Temple Spa- a spa based skin and body care range for men and women from the Mediterranean , allegedly a hit with the celebrities.

The restaurant at the hotel is called Mimosa Bar & Restaurant, and is also offering Mediterranean faire, and although I did not dine there, it certainly is a nice relaxing private retreat to have a drink. Head chef is Martin Gabler, and with a host of signature dishes such as the Scallops punctuated by lime and a spicy chili cucumber and tomato salsa, this is a pretty hot place for the locals to stop by. The special $30 lunch menu is known as the 45 minute lunch, and consists of a two course menu, and the outdoor patio in the summer proves extremely popular. You can also have a cocktail such as Grand Mimosa Champagne cocktail, the Mimosa Peach Martini or the Bloody Mimosa.  There is even a cocktail masterclass the first Saturday of every month where you can learn the secrets from the pro bartenders about mixology for a cool $70.

Another plus for the hotel is that her sister hotel, the Jumeirah Carlton Tower is just around the corner, so the Peak Health Club and Spa can also be enjoyed by Jumeirah Lowndes guests. The facilities include a 20-metre indoor heated swimming pool and tennis courts set in private gardens in the Square.

Fact Sheet

Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel

21 Lowndes Street ,  

London SW1X 9ES .

Tel 44(0)20 78231234

www.jumeirahlowndeshotel.com

Email: JLHinfo@jumeirah.com