With a festive chill in the air and the hotels sparkling Christmas lights twinkling in the night, there was a feeling of mystery and excitement in the air as we (The Marketing Team) approached The Leopard Bar.  We’d been sent summons from the team at The Rubens, 41 & bbar to join them for a night of ‘Euphoria’ – fun, food & drink and indeed it really was!

We were greeted at the Leopard Champagne Bar with a glass of champagne, a promising start, and an explanation of the events and challenges to come…

Champagne at The Leopard Bar

Fish & Chips and Champagne!

The first challenge was to sample two glasses of Champagne one a house Champagne and the other from a £5,000 bottle with a glass of water requested to cleanse the palate the competition was on! One by one we went, nibbling on mini fish & chips as we sniffed, tasted, examined and tried to bribe the barman. With the winner announced, ‘time to move along’ our hosts cried…

Kids treats at The Rubens

Fun & Adventure – not just for kids

Task two took us to one of the Junior Suites at The Rubens at the Palace where to our amazement the Director of Fun and Adventure, John Goncalves, had been let loose to create a kid’s haven, showing us how family friendly the hotel can actually be. There were sweeties, been-bags, bath toys, mini robes & slippers, teddy bears and games, not to mention Disney tunes creating a magical ambiance.  As we sampled the beer (strictly for adults) and mini burgers the General Manager, Malcolm Hendry, rolled up his sleeves and stepped into goal. Now this was a mini goal and he is not such a mini man so the challenge to score a goal was tough, but three succeeded and we were whisked from the kid’s toys, with pockets full of sweets onto location three…

Our bbar leopard

The wildness descended to bbar

Mojitios!

The next stop – 43 Below – the private party space underneath bbar (perfect for a Christmas party!), next door to the hotel.  Lined up along the bar were icy Mojitos with a suspicious looking character at the end of the bar purring in a leopard jumpsuit, complete with ears! Miaow! With appetites akin to a lion we devoured Boboite Spring Rolls as we completed the next challenge – naming the Big Five. With three beautiful South African hotels this should have been easy… 

Romantic treats at 41

The Perfect Proposal

From bbar to five star, we entered the magical doorway into Hotel 41, where we were whisked up to one of their fabulous Hospitality Suites. The lights had dimmed , we followed the trail of rose petals into the room and were swooned by the romantic tones from the ipod, candles and scents surrounded us as we were led into the adjoining room and there before us were more drinks and treats but first we had to perform a task. Famous for its proposals that take place in the hotel – we had to (one by one) get down on bended knee and propose to the Director of Sales, Steven.  The competition was stiff and the lines a little cheesy to say the least but true love cannot be mistaken and the lucky winner was congratulated with a specially designed Engagement Cake (double chocolate fudge too!)  Sadly, after such a heartfelt experience we were dismayed to discover Steven to be already married!! Shock horror!

Frozen Delights

Frozen in excitement

Getting even louder still,  it was with a heavy heart that we were then moved to our final destination the Cavalry Bar. Our mission here was to name this Tequila based icy cocktail by this time we were buzzing with ideas and the final possibility of claiming valuable points. In third was ‘Frostbite’ deemed too controversial given Scott died from this, second came ‘ The Final Glacier’ but the winner went to ‘Frozen Planet’  – very topical given the current BBC series showing at the moment (although some suspected it was the fact this idea came from the social media manager that won the top spot!)

After spending the previous 3 hours eating and mixing all sorts of alcoholic drinks, the obvious choice for concluding the night was to head back to bbar for a few more drinks and delicious platters of South Africa inspired cuisine. All in all, a perfect night full of fun, food and a lot of drinks!

Malcolm Hendry

Kate Middleton will be driven down The Mall from either Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace or Clarence House. The Mall was created as a ceremonial route in the early 20th century, and the road surface includes synthetic iron oxide pigment which gives the effect of a giant red carpet leading up to Buckingham Palace.

The Mall runs along the side of St James’s Park. In 1532, Henry VIII purchased the area of swampy marshland. James I ordered it to be drained and landscaped. He kept exotic animals in the park, including camels, crocodiles and an elephant. Charles II entertained guests and mistresses here, such as Nell Gwyn, while notorious rakes like the Earl of Rochester got up to no good in the park after dark. The 18th century saw further changes, including the 1761 purchase of Buckingham House (now Buckingham Palace) for the use of Queen Charlotte.

The Horse Guards

At the end of The Mall Kate’s car will turn into Horse Guards Parade. This is a large parade ground used for the annual ceremonies such as Trooping the Colour, and Beating Retreat. Horse Guards Parade was formerly the site of the Palace of Whitehall’s tiltyard, where jousting tournaments were held in the time of Henry VIII. It was also the scene of annual celebrations of the birthday of Queen Elizabeth I. The site will host the beach volleyball competition of the 2012 Summer Olympics. Two courts will be installed, with seating for 12,000 and 5,000 spectators.

Kate’s car will then emerge onto Whitehall, near the Banqueting House. Designed by Inigo Jones in 1619 for James I, the painted ceiling is a massive masterpiece by Rubens, the only one of his in-situ ceiling paintings to survive. It was one of Charles I’s last sights before he lost his head. The King stepped out of the Banqueting Hall window and onto the scaffold in 1649. The vaulted undercroft of the Banqueting House was designed as a drinking den for James I and his friends. After his death it was used for holding lotteries. John Evelyn describes one gambling session in 1664, at which ‘the King, Queen-Consort and Queen Mother’ won only ‘a trifle’.

Kate will then pass the end of Downing Street. The street was built in the 1680s by Sir George Downing, 1st Baronet (1632–1689), a notorious spy for Oliver Cromwell and later King Charles II. Although the houses were large, they were put up quickly and cheaply on soft soil with shallow foundations. Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote that Number 10 was “shaky and lightly built by the profiteering contractor whose name they bear.” The diarist James Boswell took rooms in Downing Street during his stay in London of 1762-3 at a rent of £22 per annum and, like the Earl of Rochester, he records having dealings with ladies of the night in the adjacent St James’s Park.

Houses of Parliment

The bride will then drive past the Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster. The first royal palace was built on the site in the eleventh century, and Westminster was the primary London residence of the Kings of England until a fire destroyed much of the complex in 1512. After that, it served as the home of Parliament, which had been meeting there since the thirteenth century.

On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out in the Palace after an overheated stove used to destroy the Exchequer’s stockpile of tally sticks set fire to the House of Lords Chamber. The subsequent competition for the reconstruction of the Palace was won by architect Charles Barry and his design for a building in the Perpendicular Gothic style. During the Second World War the Palace of Westminster was hit by bombs on fourteen separate occasions, but Barry’s building largely survived.

Westminster Abbey

Finally Kate will arrive at Westminster Abbey. The site, and church, is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day. The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs. Many have also been married here, including Henry I in 1100, Richard II in 1382, and Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. The Abbey is also the last resting place of a huge number of famous people including Geoffrey Chaucer, William Wordsworth, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Jane Austen, to name but a few.

After the ceremony Kate and her husband Prince William, will retrace the same route to Buckingham Palace in a carriage procession.

At the Rubens at the Palace we treat all our guests like royalty so let us roll out the red carpet for you with our special Live Like Royalty offer.

Shopping

Sandra Anido, the Egerton House Hotel. Knightsbridge is fashion central. We’re just five minutes from Harrods and Harvey Nichols; you can take a stroll down Beauchamp Place for some of the most exclusive fashions, including Bruce Oldfield – tipped to be designing Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. Continue on to Sloane Street, where you can indulge in the best known British and International designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Tiffany & Co.

Another favourite with our guests is nearby á la mode at 10 Symons Street. The store supports British designers and this season you’ll find offerings by Kinder Aggugini, Peter Pilotto, Erdem, Bella Freud, Queene and Belle Cashmere and Alex Gore Browne Knitwear.

The Library, just around the corner from us, is one of the best edits of denim, knits and accessories by the likes of Alexander McQueen, Comme des Garçons and Martin Margiela, juxtaposed with a great selection of style books.

The V&A shop is just over the road from us, and always has one or two really delightful surprises – everything from handbags to hats and jewellery to jackets.

Portobello Market

Andrew Pike, the Milestone Hotel. We’re very well placed for fashion conscious shopaholics. Didier Antiques is only five minutes’ walk from the Milestone, and absolute heaven for collectors of 20th century jewellery. They specialise in pieces by Post-War artists, so you’ll find rare pieces by Cocteau, Moser, Braque, Vautrin and Kapoor. It’s not cheap, but perfect for very special presents.

Phoebe Carlyle is almost next door to Didier Antiques and sells some of the leading names in lingerie, including their own very popular own label.

Notting Hill is not far away and is crammed with interesting little boutiques, including Feathers, Bodas, Matches, Alice & Astrid and The Convenience Store, to name but a few. On the weekends you can wander down Portobello Market for antique treasures and vintage clothing.

Malcolm Hendry, 41 and the Rubens at the Palace. Augustina in nearby Belgravia has a great collection of bags, jewellery, fragrances and accessories – labels include Devi Kroell, Gryson, Temple St Clair and Botkier. And of course we’re pretty close to the King’s Road – so take your pick! Check out Austique for Rachel Gilbert Sydney, Thurley, Olivia Morris, Karen Walker, Wilbur & Gussie, Boyd, Anna & Boy, Alice McCall. Other great stores include Franchetti Bond (elegant shoes and handbags), Rigby and Peller (lingerie), Mimi (Cathryn Avison, Colette Dinnigan, Patrick Cox, Paul Smith Women, Jimmy Choo)….the list goes on and on.

Burlington Arcade

Oliver Raggett, the Chesterfield Mayfair. We’re surrounded by exclusive stores and designer boutiques, so it’s impossible to list them all. Nearby Burlington Arcade is one of the world’s most unique retail hotspots, and was featured in one of our earlier blog posts.

Balenciaga is a must – the world-renowned Parisian label’s first UK store, just around the corner from us, launches this season in the heart of Mayfair. Next to Marc Jacobs, it will cement Mount Street’s status as a key location on the London fashion map.

Dover Street Market is übercool, daring and always inspiring. If you ever feel bored with fashion this place is sure to re-ignite your passion! Names include Comme des Garçons, Azzedine Alaïa, Celine, Proenza Schouler, and Casely-Hayford. Less hard core, but very rewarding for fashionistas, is Fenwicks, featuring Allegra Hicks, Ally Capellino, Bill Amberg, ISSA, Orla Kiely, Betty Jackson, Nicole Farhi, Sara Berman, Paul Smith Woman, Philip Treacy, John Smedley, Graham & Spencer, Joseph and more. It’s in Bond Street, an area that’s world renowned for its profusion of fine jewellers and luxury designer labels.

We’re also very handy for Savile Row, the home of bespoke tailoring, including Gieves & Hawkes who will create the military uniform Prince William will wear at the Royal wedding this April, and Jeremyn Street, world famous for its shirtmakers.

Fashion

Dirk Crokaert, the Montague on the Gardens. We’re only a short walk from Covent Garden, so there’s a bunch of great boutiques right on the doorstep.

One of the most popular is Koh Samui, which cleverly combines high fashion with underground streetwear and vintage. If not for its eclectic mix, go to discover new names as well as find your established favourites – Balenciaga, Chloe, Dries van Noten, Issa, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Matthew Williamson, Superfine and more.

The Loft, also in Covent Garden, sells new and second-hand designer goods for men and women all at hugely discounted prices. Many items have been used solely for fashion shows and film shoots. Suppliers include a host of celebrities who buy and sell their clothes, shoes, bags and accessories through the store…well worth a visit!

For the complete shopping experience go to  Selfridges & Co, from their infamous window displays and delicious food hall to the newly created Shoe Gallery and fabulous clothes you will find everything you could desire and more.

Terry Holmes

The Milestone, The Montague on the Gardens, the Chesterfield Mayfair all include rooms either named after royalty, or which take their design cues from a royal theme. Many of the rooms at “41” are regal in the sense that they overlook the mews and gardens of Buckingham Palace. The Egerton House Hotel has no obvious palace connection but I know at least one member of the royal family has discretely taken afternoon tea in the Drawing Room.*

The Rubens at the Palace has eight rooms which specifically commemorate particular monarchs, including Henry VIII, the most famous and notorious in English history. And when it comes to the theme of royal weddings his story surely tops them all – six brides, two of whom he had executed, and a tale full of fascinating twists and turns.

Henry’s first bride was Catherine of Aragon. Catherine married Henry’s elder brother, Arthur, when Henry was ten. Arthur died twenty weeks later, aged fifteen. Henry’s Dad, Henry VII, wanted to maintain his alliance with Catherine’s family, the royal family of Spain, and suggested Henry marry his brother’s widow. This could only occur if the Pope gave special dispensation because in the book of Leviticus it says “If a brother is to marry the wife of a brother they will remain childless.” Catherine swore that her marriage to Arthur had not been consummated, making it technically invalid. However, just to be sure the correct papal dispensation was given.

Catherine bore Henry six children. A son and a daughter were stillborn. Two sons and a daughter died shortly after childbirth. The only surviving child was a girl, leaving no male heir (but this girl went on to become Mary I). Henry eventually decided that his marriage was “blighted in the eyes of God” and had fallen for one of Catherine’s ladies-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn. Anne’s refusal to become his mistress only inflamed his passion and he determined to wed her (her sister Mary took on the role of mistress, as dramatised in “The other Boleyn girl”. Also read the Booker prize winner, and best seller, “Wolf Hall”)

Henry VIII

Henry eventually ignored the Pope’s refusal to issue an annulment and married Anne anyway. This resulted in England’s bloody and cataclysmic break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries. Anne swiftly became pregnant, but much to everyone’s disappointment it was a girl (who went on to become Elizabeth I). Anne conceived again, but news that Henry was in an almost fatal jousting accident caused her to miscarry – and it was a boy (ironically this happened on the day Henry’s first wife was buried). Henry now took Jane Seymour as his new mistress and swiftly had five men, including Anne’s own brother, arrested on charges of having sexual relationships with the queen. All were executed, followed by Anne herself. She knelt upright, in the French style of executions, and her head was severed with a single stroke.

The day after Anne’s execution Henry was engaged to Jane, and they married ten days later. Jane gave birth to a son, Prince Edward, the future Edward VI. The birth was difficult and the queen died shortly afterwards.

Next he married Anne of Cleves, after seeing her portrait. On Anne’s arrival in England, Henry is said to have found her utterly unattractive, privately calling her a “Flanders Mare”. Soon after the wedding Henry requested an annulment and Anne was smart enough to agree, saying the union had never been consummated.

Henry was now grossly obese (54 inch waist, and requiring mechanical devices to move him around) and sickly (he was covered with painful, pus-filled boils and possibly suffered from gout. His obesity and other medical problems can be traced from a jousting accident in 1536. The accident actually re-opened a previous leg wound he had sustained years earlier. This festered for the remainder of his life. Despite his infirmity he married the young Catherine Howard (age uncertain, but between seventeen and twenty two), Anne Boleyn’s first cousin. Queen Catherine soon had an affair with the courtier Thomas Culpeper. Catherine and he were both executed.

Henry married his last wife, the wealthy widow Catherine Parr, in 1543. Despite clashing with him over religion she outlived him. On his death his only legitimate son (he had several illegitimate ones) succeeded. Aged just nine years old a regent ruled on his behalf and the young Edward VI never took the reins of power. He nominated his cousin Lady Jane Grey as his heir and excluded his half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. However, this was disputed following Edward’s death – Jane was only queen for nine days before Mary was proclaimed Queen.

So despite his six marriages, Henry VIII was succeeded by the country’s first queen, and a catholic one at that!

Two momentous royal engagements are imminent allowing you to see history in the making. The eagerly anticipated Royal Wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, taking place on 29th April, has set London buzzing with excitement and is due to be the event of the year. 2012 will see the celebrations of the Diamond Jubilee celebrating 60 years of the Queen’s reign, the only other British Monarch to achieve this milestone was Queen Victoria in 1897.

David Eck

London Bridge is the oldest bridge in the capital, connecting the City of London to Southwark.  The Romans, who first arrived in 43BC, probably built the first bridge on this spot, but the rebellious Queen Boudicca destroyed it in 60 AD.  The Romans rebuilt it, but the structure fell into disrepair when they left.

The earliest contemporary written reference to a Saxon bridge is in 1016, when it was by-passed by King Cnut’s ships in his war to regain the throne from Edmund II “. The rebuilt Norman London Bridge was destroyed in 1091 by a storm known as the London Tornado.  The repair or replacement of this was carried out by William II along with works at the new St Paul’s Cathedral and the development of the Tower of London.  The bridge was destroyed yet again, this time by fire, in 1136.

The first really substantial structure took 33 years to build and was completed in 1209.  With 19 narrow arches, supporting over 200 houses and shops, it provided a busy and congested thoroughfare into the city.  Houses on the bridge were burnt during Wat Tyler’s Peasants’ Revolt in 1381 and Jack Cade’s rebellion in 1450, during which a pitched battle was fought from end to end.  In 1390, a joust took place on the bridge between Lord Welles and Sir David De Lindsay, a Scots knight, who had quarrelled over the valour of their respective countrymen. De Lindsay was the victor and was later made ambassador to England.

The southern gatehouse to the bridge featured spikes on which the severed heads of traitors were displayed.  These were dipped in tar to preserve them.  The first to achieve this celebrity status was William Wallace in 1305, while others included Thomas More in 1535, Bishop John Fisher in the same year, and Thomas Cromwell in 1540.  In 1598 a German visitor to London Paul Hentzner counted over 30 heads on the bridge.

In 1722, congestion was becoming so serious that the Lord Mayor decreed that “all carts, coaches and other carriages coming out of Southwark into this City do keep all along the west side of the said bridge: and all carts and coaches going out of the City do keep along the east side of the said bridge”. This has been suggested as one possible origin for the practice of traffic in Britain driving on the left.

London Bridge in Lake Havasu

Amazingly this early medieval bridge, narrow and congested as it was, survived for over 600 years, only being replace in 1831.  This new 19th century bridge, however, began to sink, and in 1968 was sold to the entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch for US$2,460,000.  The bridge was then dismantled, reconstructed at Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and re-dedicated on 10 October 1971. It is now the centrepiece of an “English” theme park, complete with a Tudor period shopping mall, and has become Arizona’s second-biggest tourist attraction, after the Grand Canyon.

The current London Bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 17 March 1973.  It shows no signs of falling down yet, despite the fact that In 1984, the British warship HMS Jupiter collided with it, causing extensive damage.

We hope you’ve had an enjoyable stay at one of our thirteen luxury family-run boutique hotels. When you stay at a Red Carnation Hotel, you’re more than a customer; you are our guest.

It’s therefore very important for us to continually improve our service to ensure guests’ have the best experience possible. In order to do that, we’d be delighted to hear what you thought of your time with us.

Bea Tollman, Founder and President of Red Carnation Hotels, explains:

“The essential thing is that guests are delighted by what we do, and that we provide exceptional value for money. Above all, we want them to know that we care. When they check out of their room, they should leave with lasting memories of the best service they have ever received.”

We look forward to hearing from you.

Dover Sole, as the name suggests, is not a fish one catches off the steeply shelving coast of South Africa, but one that prefers the shallow continental water of the English Channel and North Sea.

I first encountered this delicacy when we moved to London in the mid-seventies, and very quickly developed a passion for it, either grilled or meunière. As with all fish dishes you need to find the best possible raw materials, then let the natural flavours speak for themselves – simple as this sounds in theory, it takes practice to perfect!

There are several little tricks that must be mastered. First, and perhaps most important of all, you must never overcook it. Secondly, and slightly contrary to the first tip, both sides must be as crispy as possible.

So, how to achieve the crispiness without spoiling the gorgeous melt-in-your-mouth moistness of the delicate flesh?

Start by lightly seasoning it with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Next, brush both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Then place it on a hot char-grill (or a ridged cast iron pan) for just 90 seconds (no more!), then carefully turn it at a 90° angle, on the same side, for a further 90 seconds to achieve a lovely diamond cross-hatching effect. Turn it over with a metal spatula (carefully!) and do the same again. Then gently transfer it onto a baking dish and place in the oven at 180°C for 8-10 minutes. The fish is done when the bones move easily away from the flesh when you delicately insert a fork.

It’s best served with simple accompaniments – home made tartare sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice and boiled new potatoes (tossed with a touch of butter, olive oil and chopped parsley). Done properly, it’s a taste of pure heaven, and one that one never seems to get tired of.

That’s why it’s a regular feature on the menu at some of our hotels, and why I’ve included it in my cook book – entitled “A Life in Food” it celebrates those recipes which are enduring favourites with our guests.  All proceeds, excluding postage and packaging, will be donated to my favourite charities – The Startlight Foundation and The Tick Tock Club in the UK.