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. 4 In History

One-off in a Great City In 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 THE CAFÉ ROYAL IN 1901. and established the place on London’s Regent Street he called the Café Royal. Royalty also took to the place. The Prince of Wales and The Duke of York dined at the Café, Daniel and Celestine had a son, and it was he as latterly did Diana, Princess of Wales. who took the family business to new heights. By the end of the century the Café Royal was The magnetic appeal of the Café Royal renowned as a truly remarkable and original continued right through the later stages of establishment with what was considered to the 20th century. Through the now venerable have the greatest wine cellar in the world. doors came beauties and stars such as Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor, and Intellectuals, Artists and Royalty music and sports celebrities such as Mick By the 1890s, the Café Royal had become the Jagger and Muhammed Ali. epicentre for fashionable London, frequented by writers and artists such as Oscar Wilde, After being acquired by The Set, Café Royal Aubrey Beardsley and Max Beerbohm. Arthur closed in 2008 and was cocooned for over Conan Doyle, H G Wells, George Bernard four years while its careful transformation Shaw, Rudyard Kipling, W B Yeats, Walter and redevelopment took place. 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. 5

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

7 In London

The West End The 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 Street Conceived 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. 12 IN LONDON IN LONDON 13 10 In 2012

Café Royal Reincarnated The 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 Comfort The 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.

12 IN 2012 IN 2012 13 14 IN 2012 IN 2012 15 “The carrara marble bathrooms exude a sensual simplicity”

BATHROOMS FEATURE A DEEP SOAKING MARBLE BATHTUB AND SEPARATE SHOWER. 16 IN 2012

HISTORICAL DETAIL IN THE CLUB SUITE. IN 2012 17 18 IN 2012 “The haunt of some of Café Royal’s most famous patrons, the Grill Room and the more intimate Domino Room have been sensitively restored”

Inspiring Entertainment Originality and Excellence Rooted in its great heritage of pleasurable There are historical banqueting rooms for hospitality, meeting and dining at the Café private functions, meetings, social events or Royal is an experience that appeals to every weddings. There is also the Café Royal Club, taste with an array of distinctive restaurants, a haven for London society. Fully equipped, cafés and bars. Each offers its own special high-tech conference facilities and meeting ambience and experience with distinctive rooms meet all the needs of business and cuisine prepared by leading chefs. The haunts social events. The hotel also has a private of some of Café Royal’s most famous patrons, screening room for up to 30 people and 6,000 the Grill Room and the more intimate Domino square feet of prime Regent Street retail space Room have been sensitively restored. Newly for the world’s leading lifestyle brands. added is Café 1865 at Café Royal, which sells a selection of exquisite cakes and fine pastries. SIR WILLIAM ORPEN’S OIL PAINTING OF CAFÉ ROYAL IN 1912. LEFT: THE GRADE II LISTED LOUIS XVI INTERIORS HAVE BEEN METICULOUSLY RESTORED. 20 IN 2012

Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre Café 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. Hi-res required 22 IN 2012

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P I A L R A O WESTMINSTER C T I C ABBEY E V THE HEART OF LONDON. IN 2012 23

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P I A L R A O WESTMINSTER C T I C ABBEY E V 24 Summary of facilities

6 Historic Suites (81m2 – 212m2) Ten Room The Set The Set collection was created Marquis (81m²) The Bar to redefine the concept of the Club (105m²) Café 1865 at Café Royal luxury hotel for sophisticated, Tudor (106m²) Grill Room design literate travellers of the 21st century. Celestine (178m²) Domino Room Empire (212m²) Screening Room Staying at a hotel of The Set is an invitation to enjoy the best Dome (121m² + 85m² terrace) Café Royal Club of the city’s life and culture. The 7 Regent Suites (90m2) Private Dining Room Set hotels play an integral role in their local communities. 5 Glasshouse Suites (65m2) 7 St James’ Suites (61m2) 5 Meeting, Conference & Guests from the other side of the Social Function Rooms world or visitors from around the 30 Junior Suites (51m2) corner live an experience that Boardroom (32m²) 36 Mansard Rooms (36m2) is at once sophisticated, playful Mayfair (58m²) 68 Portland Rooms (37m2) and culturally inspiring. Soho (65m²) Located in existing landmark Queensberry (160m²) Guest Room Amenities/ buildings, each member of The Facilities Pompadour (188m²) Set is rooted in the history and culture of its location as well as Private butler station the contemporary needs and 24 hour in-room dining Akasha Holistic Wellbeing desires of its guests. Centre 24 hour laundry, pressing and Hotels of The Set dry-cleaning service Pool Conservatorium, Amsterdam Complimentary daily newspaper Gym Café Royal, London Lutetia, Paris (coming soon) Deep soaking bathtub and Spa separate shower Hammam and Watsu Pool Café Royal Super-sized towels Bespoke Therapies 68 Regent Street Mirror television in all bathrooms London W1B 5EL Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates Studio Telephone +44 (0) 20 7406 3333 100% pure Egyptian cotton Meditation Room Fax +44 (0) 20 7406 3366 bed linen Organic Lounge and Bar Reservations +44 (0)20 7406 3322 Wireless high-speed internet Flat screen TV and HD hotelcaferoyal.com entertainment, digital cable thesethotels.com and movies on demand Gourmet mini-bar