Christmas treat at Claridges

I know that it’s the middle of January but I am still working my way through my Christmas activities, I'm therefore giving myself until the 25^th of January to share my Christmas fun and then I'm blocking out February to share my New York adventures. As blogged last week Breakfast treats were my new thing for 2015 and my Christmas breakfast was indulged at the beautiful Claridges.

Having spent my birthday breakfast there, and had such I lovely time, I booked a return for the festive season.

Every year Claridges invites a  designer to create their Christmas tree for the season which takes pride of place within their lobby ; this year it was Christopher Bailey from Burberry that got the honours. With his unique creativity a Christmas tree of gold and silver umbrellas was unveiled early December.

Visiting Claridges on the Monday of Christmas week was special and due to the early time of my booking I felt like I was watching a unique little corner of Mayfair wake up. The team were as accommodating and friendly as on previous visits and it was the perfect way to start the week.

Claridges breakfast menu is huge and offers so many options it's hard to choose, however I opted for the English; accompanied by juice, toast and coffee. All beautifully presented and cooked to perfection. (any breakfast menu that has burford browns on them is a winner in my world)

Aside from the Umbrella Christmas tree, Claridges decorations were distinctly traditional and starred The Nutcracker. The outside canopy and wreaths along the wrought iron fence line all had varying sized Nutcracker dolls along with huge christmas trees, gold branches and red and gold baubles. Little woodland nutcracker christmas scenes nestled in glass pears on furniture, alcoves and the fireplace, creating magic and theatre in the most unexpected way, it really was a delight to see.

Claridges has become a Christmas must for me and one year I have promised myself a stay on Christmas Eve, until that time I will look forward to visiting in December for breakfast, dinner or tea. 
Thank-you Claridges for making my visit so lovely and kicking off my Christmas week in such fabulous style.

Here are my previous trips to this lovely establishment in Mayfair. Look forward to visiting again in 2016.

Birthday Treats ~ Breakfast at Claridges

This year for my birthday I decided to do something a little different and embarked on a day of treats in London.

My day started at the gorgeous hotel of Claridges for a birthday breakfast....having been for afternoon  tea and  christmas dinner, I knew that breakfast would be as lovely.

Fortunately my breakfast was a perfect summer's day and showcased the hotel in all its glorious splendour.

Sweeping through the legendary revolving doors into the gorgeous art deco lobby, a vision of glorious blue blooms from the hotel florists McQueen's showcased the areas beautifully.

I was led into the foyer and reading room where I was seated in a comfortable armchair for my breakfast. 

The breakfast menu is vast, and offers a huge array of choices from healthy through to indulgent... I opted for the english, consisting of  Burford brown eggs; fried, poached or scrambled, sweet cured bacon, Middlewhite sausage, grilled tomato, field mushroom,showcasing british produce at its finest.

My breakfast was absolutely delicious, accompanied with a gorgeous pot of coffee and freshly squeezed pink grapefruit juice. Much to my embarrassment & delight after eating my breakfast I was presented with a birthday pastry complete with candle and birthday message.

I couldn't fault food, service or ambience during my visit to Claridges and had an amazing start to my birthday. As I was leaving I was handed a little green Claridges bag filled with treats - jams and a mug for my birthday, a lovely surprise and a gorgeous souvenir of my time in this stunning hotel. Claridges really is one of the best hotels in London and a perfect place to kick-start a day, especially if its your birthday.Thank-you Claridges & team for a lovely time, food, service and surroundings were perfect.

Christmas at Claridges...

One of my highlights of my Christmas countdown was an evening dining at Claridges. Bought as a gift the previous year and postponed due to my friends husband being ill in hospital, Claridges honored the booking and allowed us to visit this Christmas. Tucked away in a side street in Mayfair just a short walk from Oxford Street, this glamorous hotel is everything you imagine it to be and more. Sweeping into the art deco tiled lobby through the revolving doors you are transported back in time and decadence and in December greeted with the most gorgeous decorations and Christmas tree.
Every year Claridges invite a fashion designer to decorate their tree in the foyer of the hotel This year it was the turn of designer Dolce & Gabbana.The tree was decorated with 300 hand glass blown baubles, hand painted with international flags from across the world and 9,000 fairy lights.

A winter woodland scene was set at the base of the tree complete with animatronic reindeer's, rabbits & squirrels and a decadent red throne. The entrance and lobby of the hotel alongside the tree were bathed in gold, birdcages, baubles and woodland foliage. With a roaring fire in the firepace and sumptuous armchairs, this couldn't have been anymore inviting.... just gorgeous. 

Moving through the lobby we were seated in the Reading room just off the Foyer for dinner. The rooms were busy with friends and families finishing off afternoon tea or an early dinner. With Christmas just around the corner we opted to dine off the festive menu. I choose : Roast goose salad Celeriac remoulade, crab apple jelly, and watercress.  Roast organic Cambridge Bronze turkey, roast potatoes, parsnips, carrots, glazed sprouts, chestnuts, & bread sauce. Claridge’s Christmas pudding & Cognac Anglaise From the homemade rustic bread, through to the marshmallow petit fours with coffee every mouthful of this dinner was delicious. 

The warm roast goose salad melted in the mouth and I would have been happy with this as a main course. With many main courses to choose from I opted for the turkey which along with all the vegetable trimmings was cooked to perfection. The turkey being the best I have ever had. Following such fabulous starters & main courses we opted for a rest before dessert and coffee.                         Dessert was Claridges world fabulous Christmas Pudding, doused in a 'healthy' dram of Brandy and set alight at the table...  delicious decadence in every mouthful.

The service, and ambiance was perfect, we couldn't have asked for better. It wasn't just us that had a fabulous time that evening, the esteemed  actor Sir Ben Kingsley sat behind us during the evening, enjoying Christmas as Claridges. I loved my whole evening at Claridges and will be adding it to my Christmas must's for future festive seasons.... thankyou C for a fabulous gift & Claridges for exceeding all expectations.
This wasn't my first trip to Claridges; I have previously visited for afternoon tea, both were fabulous however Christmas at Claridges is just that little bit special.

Here is a sneak peak of how the Christmas fairies install christmas at Claridges...

An evening at Claridges

A couple of Fridays ago I was luckily enough to spend an evening at the elegantly beautiful Claridges. Afternoon Tea was a Christmas gift from a friend and I need to say it ticked all the boxes... I've always loved Claridges and fell in love with it a little more after the recent BBC documentary so was very excited to be going.
On another cold winter evening the greeting by the lovely doorman Roman Proboziak was a little ray of sunshine. On entering through the revolving doors you are greeted by this huge hallway entrance overhung by a stunning chandelier. The tea / dining salon in the foyer which was a buzz with patrons dining.The opulent surroundings are stunning, elegant and full of class.

After off loading coats we were taken to our table which was in the through the Foyer into the Reading room, where we had a great view into the foyer. The tables are staged in a way that you can talk without overhearing the surrounding tables and eat and drink in comfort.

Afternoon tea was a selection of sandwiches, apple & sultana scones with cream and preserve and a selection of delicious mini desserts and cakes. The food was delicious, one of the nicest afternoon teas that I have eaten.

The service was great, attentive without being overbearing. Even with a late sitting we didn't feel hurried to leave, even as they prepared for dinner service around us.
We were served by the young waiter who was seen starting his first day on the TV programme who talked to us about how much he is enjoying his time at Claridges.

I loved my time at Claridges, the perfect escape from a cold Friday evening in London, we had lots of laughs, the people watching was fun and the service and staff were fantastic.