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You would probably have to be able to afford diamonds to spend a weekend
like this one, but if you are rich then treat yourself and look no further
than perhaps the biggest jewel in the crown, Durley House.
At London's most fashionable, exclusive address in Sloane Street, the
five-star Durley House boasts 11 elegant and
traditionally furnished one- and two-bedroom suites. Here you get an
insight into how the other half lives, as well as grand 18th Century home
life.
Each suite is unique with its own kitchen and lounge as Durley House prides
itself on its in-house private dining service where guests - many of whom
are Hollywood stars - can enjoy ultimate privacy as there are no public
areas apart from the reception and the beautiful drawing room
downstairs.
Suites start from 340 up to 620 per night, but there are special offers
throughout the year.
You can book a suite for private celebrations in absolute luxury. A special
hen night package is available for 200 per person, including an evening of
make-overs, exclusive limo services to a restaurant or private members'
club, and then back to your suite to indulge in champagne and perhaps an
in-house massage, as well as many other treats like DVDs and popcorn.
The hen will also receive a gift from the Durley House team to remember her
magical experience. Packages can be tailor-made.
I was allocated to the Durley Suite which had a dumb waiter (serving hatch
from the kitchens) in the hall delivering
breakfast each morning. A few minutes later a butler would knock at the
door to set the dining table and serve breakfast.
It is the ultimate in luxury when a bubble bath is run for you by a maid
around 6pm and a candle placed by the bathside when the bed is turned down
for the evening.
The beds are at least as wide as they are long and adorned in beautiful bed
linen with huge feather pillows. The Hollywood star who had slept in my bed
- but not at the same time, I hasten to add - shall remain nameless.
On arrival I enjoyed a siesta in this massive bed following a full body
massage in the lounge of the suite, where I found curtains drawn, candles
lit and music playing while Elaine de Oliveira, in-house masseuse, sent me
to heaven.
Elaine had flown from Amsterdam where her company, Ken Tui, is based
especially to treat house guests for the weekend. She does this once a
month for Durley House.
Elaine's approach is holistic and a complex combination of Western and
Eastern techniques and knowledge.
The kitchen in my suite was large enough to cater for private functions,
where celebrity chefs can cook on request, and an honesty bar with a fully
stocked fridge was at hand.
There was even a wine rack with a selection of reds and whites to choose
from, including champagne. Dinner can also be delivered to your room.
However, we were invited to dinner at the Durley's sister hotel, The
Cadogan, a little further down Sloane Street. Both are part of the luxury
boutique hotel chain, the Stein Group.
This is larger and has the feel of a townhouse. It has around 65 rooms and
suites with a mix of traditional and newly refurbished rooms in
contemporary design and colours. The Oscar Wilde room is aptly named as
this is where he was arrested.
The elegant restaurant, Mes'anges, is open to the public and a menu to die
for awaits. A special offer `Weekend in Town' for a minimum of two nights
in a Deluxe room will set you back 235 per night including breakfast.
Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Cafe in Knightsbridge is also beautifully
decorated, inspired by the classical English garden tree in leaf green,
bittersweet brown and silver. Within walking distance from Durley House we
had lunch here. It is a relaxed affair, and not too expensive considering
its location.
The Boxwood is a few
steps from London's most exclusive stores and Toshiko Kobatake, personal
image consultant also attached to Durley House, took us to some of them.
This is a service provided at a cost where any guest who needs a new outfit
and accessories for a special occasion can have someone else do it for
them, either by shopping with them or having items personally delivered to
the hotel.
Stores to visit all in close proximity are Fendi, D&G, Tanner Krolle,
Tod's, Nicole Fahri, Versace, Dior, Valentino, Armani, La Perla, and of
course Harrods, with many more besides.
It was an eye-opening experience to visit some of them with Toshiko,
especially when we were shown which outfits Madonna had chosen from Prada
for the coming season. Checking out the prices was even more of an eyebrow
raiser.
The perfect way to end a busy day's shopping is to pop into the world of Jo
Malone and have a hand and arm massage.
The exquisite fragrances and creams for which Jo is famous seduce your
senses as they linger long afterwards.
Perhaps the second jewel in the crown was dinner in the evening at the
luxurious Mosimann's restaurant, making me think perhaps I should have worn
my tiara. Anton Mosimann, the famous chef, impressed with his unique
culinary skills over an amazing four-course meal in one of its six private
dining rooms, each one with a character of its own. There is even a room
for two, the smallest dining room in the world.
Mosimann's, formerly The Belfry, is a private dining club in the heart of
Belgravia. Membership fees are from 150 annually for the Ladies' Lunch Club
up to 500. Various corporate memberships are also available. The sumptuous
surroundings and impeccable service is beyond all expectations.
With some time still left on the Sunday after leading a leisurely morning
at Durley House, it was fun to ride the London Eye at Westminster and take
in the Saatchi Gallery to see the latest wacky installations on offer.
The trip back to King's Cross brought me back to reality, but didn't take
the sparkle out of a glittering weekend. After all, diamonds are
forever.
Travelfacts
* Durley House, 115 Sloane Street, Knightsbridge, London, (020) 7235-5537, www.thesteingroup.com/durley
* The Diamond Exhibition runs until February 26, at the Natural History
Museum, Cromwell Road, London, (020) 7942- 5106.
* Boxwood Cafe Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London, (020) 7235-1010
* The Cadogan Hotel, Cadogan Gardens, Knightsbridge, London, (020)
7235-7141, www.cadogan.com
* Elaine de Oliveira, Massage Therapist, Ken Tui, 07958 490 118 (UK), +31
(0) 622 321 223 (Holland), www.kentui.com
* Toshiko Kobatake, Personal Image Consultant,
Talking Image, (020) 8458-4597, www.talkingimage.co.uk
* Ulla Coulthard, Guest Relations Manager, Mosimann's, 11b West Halkin
Street, London, (020) 7838-6331, www.mosimann.com
For booking appointments or enquiries, please contact Toshiko:
Tel/Fax: +44 (0)20 8458 4597
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