[Appeared in the Manchester Evening News]
They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so when it comes to a hotel, the foyer needs to be the forte.
As such, I really shot myself in the foot when I hopped off the train and mistakenly entered The Landmark through the side entrance, entirely missing the exquisite entrance hall they’ve so painstakingly crafted.
Even so, my first impression was a good one. There’s a white-gloved hand resting on every door handle, no matter which convoluted way you make your arrival, so that your first stroll through this extravagant building is unencumbered by anything as trivial as having to open your own doors.
First opened as The Great Central Hotel in 1899, and taken over by The Lancaster Landmark hotel company in 1995, the 300-bedroomed Landmark is one of the last, and one of the grandest, of the great Victorian railway hotels. Inside are grand ballrooms, a spa and health centre, and several glossy bars and restaurants.
This enormous building, conveniently located opposite Marylebone station and within walking distance of some of London’s most popular culture spots, is a twisting lavish labyrinth of corridors centred around a towering eight-storey atrium, complete with soaring palm trees, ornate marble, and sweeping staircases.
You can imagine my delight to learn that I would be staying in the newly refurbished Great Central Suite, inspired by the hotel’s long-running parallels with the railway industry and popped up on the top floor of the hotel.
The suite itself was exceptional. A spacious lounge/dining room with views over London, a grand bedroom with huge wardrobes, an impossibly long white marble bathroom, not to mention a second bathroom and a hallway the length of my entire apartment back in Manchester.
The Great Central Suite has kept all the trappings of typical five-star Britain – plush carpet, heavy fabrics, delicate lighting, an antique desk, ornamental leather trunks dotted around to tie in with the railway theme – but it’s not without its 21 century spoils.
There’s a flat-screen TV in each room, all of which were playing smooth jazz when we arrived, a scalp-tickling power shower, and a setting of mood lighting to suit every occasion, including drinking red wine in your fluffy branded dressing gown and watching QI (tried and tested).
Of course, this is one of the jewels in Landmark’s blindingly brilliant crown, and there are plenty of smaller – though still luxurious – rooms to choose from.
Once we were finished drinking in every detail of the beautiful suite, we headed down to the Winter Garden for dinner. This is the glittering heart of the hotel, and justifiably their pride and joy.
London has no shortage of fine dining restaurants, but the setting of this restaurant is tough to beat.
My head was twisting and turning this way and that – craning to admire the glass ceiling far above me, following a procession of masqueraded revelers heading to one of the ballrooms, back down to my table as yet another exquisite plate of food was set down in front of me.
The soundtrack of a grand piano and laughter trickling down from The Gazebo, and the steady flow of a fantastic bottle of Malbec, was enough to take any frigidity out of such an elaborate environment.
We ordered an exceptional slow-cooked beef ravioli to start – decadently savoury with its foie gras veloute and black truffle – and a creamy risotto of Cornish crab and crispy baby squid.
Our mains came from the Simply the Winter Garden menu; England’s favourite dishes upgraded and updated to suit the most refined of palates. The pheasant pie was soulful and rich, while the indulgent chocolate fondant I requested for dessert was perfectly cut through by a sharp passionfruit sorbet.
Like a swan on water, everything on the surface is entirely calm and poised, served with a smile and a gracious head tilt, but behind the scenes there must be an army of hyper-efficient employees at work.
The staff were almost unnervingly attentive with us, anticipating and catering for our every whim from the moment we arrived until the moment we left (via six laps of the jaw-dropping breakfast buffet banquet.)
It can be hard to find a spot to unwind in the bustling heart of London, but as I left the Landmark and forced my way back on to a train, I couldn’t help but feel that I’d just relished in 24 hours of pure, unabashed, luxury.
Factbox
Daisy was a guest of Landmark London, 222 Marylebone Road. Superior rooms start from £312 per night, or £352 per night to include breakfast. Visit www.landmarklondon.co.ukto book or call 020 7631 8000.
Daisy Jackson 