A London Legend Reborn

REGENT STREET, LONDON

A London Legend Reborn

Running head

Running head

True to its original glamorous spirit, Café Royal is reopening as a luxury hotel in 2012 in the heart of London, with elegant Mayfair to the west and creative Soho to the east. Paying homage to the history of the building, grand historic areas are being sensitively restored, while serene new rooms and suites are being created in a refined style. Café Royal, which has been a national treasure for almost two centuries, is continuing its celebrated legacy and features a diversity of places to enjoy food and drink, from the casual elegance of The Brasserie to the sophistication of the exquisitely restored Domino and Grill Rooms. To complete the full experience, other new facilities include the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre, the Café Royal Club and the Café 1865.

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One-off in a Great CityIn 1863, a French wine merchant called Daniel Nicholas Thévenon and his wife Celestine arrived in England with just £5 between them. Daniel Nicholas Thévenon anglicised his name to Daniel Nicols and brought to London an immense knowledge of wines and an indomitable enterprising spirit. So began a story that culminated in the creation of a supreme reputation for novel atmosphere and pleasure in the centre of London’s West End. Within a couple of years he had conceived and established the place on London’s Regent Street he called the Café Royal. Daniel and Celestine had a son, and it was he who took the family business to new heights. By the end of the century the Café Royal was renowned as a truly remarkable and original establishment with what was considered to have the greatest wine cellar in the world. Intellectuals, Artists and RoyaltyBy the 1890s, the Café Royal had become the epicentre for fashionable London, frequented by writers and artists such as Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley and Max Beerbohm. Arthur Conan Doyle, H G Wells, George Bernard Shaw, Rudyard Kipling, W B Yeats, Walter Sickert and James McNeill Whistler were all Café Royal patrons. After substantial rebuilding in the 1920s, the Café Royal’s appeal widened further, as did its clientele. In the 1930s and 40s, Augustus John, D H Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, Winston Churchill, Noël Coward, Jacob Epstein and Graham Greene would be seen dining there.

THE CAFÉ ROYAL IN 1901.

Royalty also took to the place. The Prince of Wales and The Duke of York dined at the Café, as latterly did Diana, Princess of Wales. The magnetic appeal of the Café Royal continued right through the later stages of the 20th century. Through the now venerable doors came beauties and stars such as Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor, and music and sports celebrities such as Mick Jagger and Muhammed Ali. After being acquired by The Set, Café Royal closed in 2008 and was cocooned for over four years while its careful transformation and redevelopment took place.

In History

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SIDNEY STARR’S ATMOSPHERIC 1888 PASTEL ‘AT THE CAFÉ ROYAL’.

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In London

The West EndThe Café Royal is ideally located on Regent Street, in the beating heart of the West End. To the west are the glamorous residences and elegant boutiques of Mayfair. To the east are Soho’s lattice of alleys and streets, which define the nightlife and encompass the cosmopolitan restaurants.

Also right on its doorstep is the famous shopping of Bond Street, Mount Street and Jermyn Street. Below Piccadilly are the exclusive clubs and art galleries of historic St James’ with Westminster and Buckingham Palace just beyond. The Royal Academy, the British Museum and the National Gallery are all within walking distance, as well as Covent Garden and the capital’s great theatres, opera houses and art galleries.

Regent StreetConceived by John Nash, Regent Street was completed in 1825 and dedicated to the Prince Regent, who became George IV. So when the Café Royal opened at its southern end in 1865, the now famous sweeping, colonnaded Nash terrace was still relatively novel and has since established itself as the only regal street in London.

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In 2012

Café Royal ReincarnatedThe reopening of Café Royal as a luxury hotel of The Set collection, heralds the return of a London institution which has continually evolved to define and capture the mood and style of the capital throughout its 150 year history.

Café Royal offers 159 rooms and suites, balancing 21st century design with the heritage of Grade II listed public rooms, including the illustrious Grill and Domino Rooms.

Striking in the bold simplicity of its conception and true to the glamorous spirit of its past, Café Royal also includes restaurants to be presided over by one of London’s leading chefs and an Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre. The development has taken four years to complete and is the work of David Chipperfield Architects, globally renowned for radical and sympathetic building design and winners of over 50 global design excellence awards.

Elegance and ComfortThe hotel’s guest rooms and suites are outstandingly designed – including the six ‘historic’ suites that are reminiscent of Café Royal’s glorious past. They are characterised by an elegant simplicity with grand classical features in noble materials.

Rooms and suites are looked after by private butlers who cater to guests’ every desire. In-room dining is available 24 hours a day. State-of-the-art technology provides the very best of in-room entertainment and connectivity while the carrara marble bathrooms exude a sensual simplicity.

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“The carrara marble bathrooms exude a sensual simplicity”

BATHROOMS FEATURE A DEEP SOAKING MARBLE BATHTUB AND SEPARATE SHOWER.

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HISTORICAL DETAIL IN THE CLUB SUITE.

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Inspiring EntertainmentRooted in its great heritage of pleasurable hospitality, meeting and dining at the Café Royal is an experience that appeals to every taste with an array of distinctive restaurants, cafés and bars. Each offers its own special ambience and experience with distinctive cuisine prepared by leading chefs. The haunts of some of Café Royal’s most famous patrons, the Grill Room and the more intimate Domino Room have been sensitively restored. Newly added is Café 1865 at Café Royal, which sells a selection of exquisite cakes and fine pastries.

Originality and ExcellenceThere are historical banqueting rooms for private functions, meetings, social events or weddings. There is also the Café Royal Club, a haven for London society. Fully equipped, high-tech conference facilities and meeting rooms meet all the needs of business and social events. The hotel also has a private screening room for up to 30 people and 6,000 square feet of prime Regent Street retail space for the world’s leading lifestyle brands.

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“The haunt of some of Café Royal’s most famous patrons, the Grill Room and the more intimate Domino Room have been sensitively restored”

SIR WILLIAM ORPEN’S OIL PAINTING OF CAFÉ ROYAL IN 1912.

LEFT: THE GRADE II LISTED LOUIS XVI INTERIORS HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY RESTORED.

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Akasha Holistic Wellbeing CentreCafé Royal’s 1200 m2 Wellbeing Centre provides a personal and intimate holistic experience. It has a lap pool and four different areas, corresponding to the four natural elements: spa/water, gym/fire, yoga/air and organic bar/earth.

The spa offers a variety of Watsu hydro-experiences, a private and public Hammam and signature Akasha treatments. Moods are enhanced by restorative music, aromas and gentle lighting.

The gym has the most advanced fitness equipment, including Kinesis machines. There is a spacious aerobics studio and a private training room. Yoga, Tai-Chi and Pilates are offered in the calming area, with bespoke classes. The organic lounge and bar area offers a healthy, nourishing assortment of snacks and juices.

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ROYAL OPERAHOUSE

HORSE GUARDSPARADE

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

HOUSES OFPARLIAMENT

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LEICESTERSQUARE

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CAFÉ ROYAL

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FORTNUM& MASON

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COVENT GARDENPIAZZA

ROYAL OPERAHOUSE

HORSE GUARDSPARADE

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

HOUSES OFPARLIAMENT

WESTMINSTERABBEY

LEICESTERSQUARE

WATERLOOSTATION

CHARING CROSSSTATION

ST JAMES ’SPALACE

SELFRIDGES

L IBERTY

SOUTHBANKCENTRE

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COUNTYHALL

G R E E N P A R K

HYDE PARKCORNER

TRAFALGARSQUARE

SOHO SQUARE

GROSVENOR SQUARE

BERKELEY SQUARE

H Y D E P A R K

S T J A M E S ’ S P A R K

SOHO

ST JAMES’S

WESTMINSTER

MAYFAIR

COVENT GARDEN

Theatreland

CAFÉ ROYAL

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6 Historic Suites (81m2 – 212m2)

Marquis (81m²)

Club (105m²)

Tudor (106m²)

Celestine (178m²)

Empire (212m²)

Dome (121m² + 85m² terrace)

7 Regent Suites (90m2)

5 Glasshouse Suites (65m2)

7 St James’ Suites (61m2)

30 Junior Suites (51m2)

36 Mansard Rooms (36m2)

68 Portland Rooms (37m2)

Guest Room Amenities/Facilities

Private butler station

24 hour in-room dining

24 hour laundry, pressing and dry-cleaning service

Complimentary daily newspaper

Deep soaking bathtub and separate shower

Super-sized towels

Mirror television in all bathrooms

100% pure Egyptian cotton bed linen

Wireless high-speed internet

Flat screen TV and HD entertainment, digital cable and movies on demand

Gourmet mini-bar

Ten Room

The Bar

Café 1865 at Café Royal

Grill Room

Domino Room

Screening Room

Café Royal Club

Private Dining Room

5 Meeting, Conference & Social Function Rooms

Boardroom (32m²)

Mayfair (58m²)

Soho (65m²)

Queensberry (160m²)

Pompadour (188m²)

Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre

Pool

Gym

Spa

Hammam and Watsu Pool

Bespoke Therapies

Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates Studio

Meditation Room

Organic Lounge and Bar

Summary of facilities

The SetThe Set collection was created to redefine the concept of the luxury hotel for sophisticated, design literate travellers of the 21st century.

Staying at a hotel of The Set is an invitation to enjoy the best of the city’s life and culture. The Set hotels play an integral role in their local communities.

Guests from the other side of the world or visitors from around the corner live an experience that is at once sophisticated, playful and culturally inspiring.

Located in existing landmark buildings, each member of The Set is rooted in the history and culture of its location as well as the contemporary needs and desires of its guests.

Hotels of The SetConservatorium, AmsterdamCafé Royal, London Lutetia, Paris (coming soon)

Café Royal 68 Regent Street London W1B 5ELTelephone +44 (0) 20 7406 3333Fax +44 (0) 20 7406 3366Reservations +44 (0)20 7406 3322

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