Great British Hotel Review: Flemings, Mayfair

Now hotels are finally open, treat yourself to a night at one of London’s best kept secrets…

Why go? Old-school Mayfair glamour with faultless destination dining at Ormer Mayfair, led by Executive Chef and Great British Menu finalist 2020, Kerth Gumbs.

Safety: If you’re rightfully worried about the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the hotel’s new safety policy should put you at ease: flemings-mayfair.co.uk

The location: One of central London’s best kept secrets, Flemings has the best of both worlds: it’s a two-minute walk from Green Park tube station and less than ten minutes from Buckingham Palace but also tucked away on the very quiet and private Half Moon Street.

Inside: Despite having 129 luxury guest rooms and suites, this welcoming hotel has the cosy boutique feel of a much smaller hotel, with superb staff that will instantly make you feel right at home. Converted from 13 Georgian townhouses, Flemings is one of the only remaining privately owned hotels in London, and has been in the same family for over 40 years. It recently underwent an epic £15 million revamp and the results are stunning; the lobby oozes 1930’s glamour and each luxurious bedroom, suite and apartment is individually decorated in soothing shades of bronze and grey with vintage-style patterned wallpaper, wool carpets, silk curtains and glossy silver furnishings adding to the luxe feel. The bright and airy bathrooms are as luxurious as you’d expect, with Elemis toiletries and wonderfully fluffy robes.

The food: Kick things off with a drink at the hotel’s Manetta’s Bar, where Art Deco stylings, plush velvet and polished rose gold set the scene for some seriously creative cocktails, inspired by British cultural figures such as Agatha Christie and James Joyce. Try the Endless Night cocktail: a heady mix of cognac, apricot liqueur and cherry bitters. Then into Ormer, a dazzling Michelin-starred restaurant fronted by Jersey chef Shaun Rankin. The dinner menu reflects the chef’s love of local Jersey produce, with a particular focus on seasonal produce including fresh lobster, crab, oysters, hand dived scallops, Jersey royals and hand-picked shoreline foraged herbs. After asking a few questions about the wine we normally liked, our lovely sommelier picked out a crisp, bone-dry Muscadet that was well-priced and matched our chosen courses beautifully.

We started with perfectly balanced and beautifully presented plates of slow-cooked hens egg in a truffle consomme and Jersey lobster ravioli in a rich and creamy crab and tomato bisque. Next, mains: a Dorset lamb cutlet with braised leg, Wye Valley asparagus and black garlic took classic flavour combinations to new heights, while delicate Dover Sole was served with an irresistible seaweed beurre blanc. The team at Ormer are experts at presentation and flavour, and a humble sounding apple crumble was a real highlight, with all the classic tastes of the classic dish served inside a white chocolate shell (painted to look like a glossy red apple), with caramel and vanilla ice cream. As you’d expect, a dinner of this standard in this part of London isn’t cheap, but you’re guaranteed an unforgettable evening with truly fabulous food. The set lunch menu is also great value at £31.50 for three courses. flemings-mayfair.co.uk