'William Wolfe's Guide To Excellent Living in London' brings to fruition a long-cherished dream of Fitzdares' CEO William Woodhams. Told by William Wolfe it is this decade’s required reading for Londoners, newcomers and discerning tourists alike. Taking in top tailors, outfitters, shoe-makers, bars, hotels and restaurants, as well as stationers, florists, wine-dealers, grocers and dry cleaners - including many Walpole members - it is the ultimate survey of the best on offer in London today.
Over the next few months we will explore the bastions of London that keep craftsmanship and excellent service alive. Read on to discover the next stop on our journey: The Connaught.
A casualty of Germanophobia that swept Britain during the Great War, The Coburg, which could trace its origins back more than a century, was rechristened The Connaught in 1917. Happily, its essential character was unimpaired. Renovated at intervals to ensure that its amenities are as cutting-edge as one would expect of an establishment of this calibre, the atmosphere is, at heart, that of late Victorian London.
With its robust wood panelling and encrustations of ornate plasterwork, The Connaught strikes me as a rather ‘masculine’ hotel. But not for a moment do I mean to imply even a hint of chauvinism. On the contrary, skill and sensitivity on the part of designers and decorators have imbued its interiors with a sunny ambience that speaks of the conservatory as much as the gentlemen’s club.
Long renowned for its exceptional cuisine, The Connaught showcases the talent of top chef Hélène Darroze in a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in which contemporary furniture and artworks by Damien Hirst are softened by natural wood and blush-toned fabrics. A brace of bars, appropriately dubbed The Coburg and The Connaught, have an after-hours feel throughout the day. The Coburg cocktail menu is a decade-by-decade spin through the classics of the last century. Try a Prince of Wales, inspired by the drinking habits of the future King Edward VII.
The Connaught is located at Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL. the-connaught.co.uk
