The Grosvenor Hotel's Reunion bar reveals sweet shoppe themed cocktail menu

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:50:33 GMT

The Grosvenor Hotel's stylish Reunion bar has revealed an exclusive limited edition Old Fashioned Sweet Shoppe themed cocktail menu, which will be available throughout the month of April 2012.

Inspired by childhood memories of the local corner shop with its bright jingling entrance, huge brass scales, rustling paper bags torn from string and shelves of multi-coloured jars as high as a young eye could see, guests can enjoy delicious childhood favourites such as 'Pineapple Rock', made with pineapple flavoured ice cubes and a hint of Seriously Pinky liqueur. They can sip their old fashioned cocktail while relaxing in elegant surroundings of a historic London hotel. Other tipples expected to bring back the memories include 'Pontefract Cake', containing a delicious concoction of Dark Creme de Cacao and Absinthe, and 'Pear Drops', featuring a mix of Wyborowa Pear and Limoncello.

Visitors to the Reunion bar can also sample 'Rhubarb & Custard', an iconic, bicoloured sweetie cocktail with a bottom half containing a rich vanilla custard flavour and a top made with delicious rhubarb compote, Chase Rhubarb liqueur and a splash of Grenadine.

Some of Reunion’s other vintage candy themed cocktails include the 'Humbug' and 'Butterscotch'. The Humbug is made with White Crème de Menthe, caramel syrup and Teichenne Butterscotch liqueur. The 'Humbug' draws its inspiration from the early 19th century striped sweet. The 'Butterscotch' cocktail combines a delicious vatted malt whisky called Monkey Shoulder, along with butterscotch schnapps, reminiscent of the luxurious, gold wrapped sweet from childhood.

Reunion's Head Barman Paul Bradley said of the cocktail menu: "This is our latest monthly themed cocktail menu, designed to celebrate the rich history and heritage of Reunion and the hotel itself. Having been challenged to write a menu based on an old fashioned sweetshop, our usual high level of research and homework suddenly became much less of a chore, as we set about sourcing a wide variety of traditional treats which we could translate into liquid form. We had lots of fun creating each bespoke cocktail to reflect the carefree days of childhood."

Reunion bar, which was designed to reflect the Grosvenor hotel's colourful past with unique decor and art inspired by the golden age of railway travel, was formerly the VIP lounge for first class rail passengers at Victoria station. It was often frequented by famous actors including Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Platform one, which could be accessed directly from the lounge, was famous for luxurious trains The Orient Express and the Brighton Belle, the latter being depicted in paintings hanging at each end of the room.

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About Guoman Hotels
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of luxury hotels located in central London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service hotels in several major UK cities.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland and The Royal Horseguards and luxury hotel, The Grosvenor. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman & Thistle Hotels launch guest rewards scheme

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:00:57 GMT

Guoman & Thistle Hotels has launched a user-friendly rewards scheme, 'Signature', for guests staying at any of the group's properties across the UK.

Signature is quick, free and easy for guests to join. Guests progress through Blue, Ruby and Gold membership tiers depending on how often they stay, to enjoy benefits such as a free Sunday lunch, priority / late check-out and free room upgrades.

The scheme is valid across any of the groups hotel's including the newest member of the Guoman Hotels collection, the recently refurbished hotel, The Grosvenor Hotel.

The Signature Blue tier is open to all guests and is completely free to join. To qualify for the Signature Ruby tier, guests must stay at any Guoman or Thistle property for 4-10 nights across a maximum of two stays or more than eleven nights (across two stays) to become a Signature Gold member.

Signature Gold tier members receive all the rewards that Blue and Ruby tier guests receive as well as additional benefits such as complimentary tea and coffee at weekends, a dedicated check-in area and increased WI-FI usage. In all tiers, from time to time, members will receive exclusive offers and 'unique treats' as a thank you for staying with Guoman or Thistle.

Guests can enrol for the scheme and monitor their rewards points at www.guomansignature.com or www.thistlesignature.com.

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About Guoman Hotels
Guoman Hotel Management Limited operates two hotel brands within the UK market; Guoman Hotels, an exclusive collection of deluxe hotels in London and Thistle Hotels, a chain of quality full service luxury hotels UK.

Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of five landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor Hotel in Victoria. Whilst each hotel in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Guoman Hotel Management Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GuocoLeisure Ltd, part of the Hong Leong Group which has hospitality and leisure businesses across the globe with hotels in Europe, USA, Australasia and Asia. For further information please visit www.guoman.com.

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor Hotel Victoria uncovers the 'Courtesan's Boudoir'

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:53:52 GMT

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor Hotel has revealed its past connection to one of the most risqué residents of 1870s London, with the launch of its opulent 'Courtesan’s Boudoir'. The Parisian-inspired Suite has been tenderly created in homage to one of the grand railway hotel's most infamous visitors - the scandalous courtesan, Miss Cora Pearl.

A lady notorious with entertaining only the highest members of social standing, including royalty, Cora Pearl was one of the most feted courtesans of her time. In the 1870s, Cora made a rare visit to London and, after arriving at Victoria Station (the gateway into London at that time), booked a Suite at The Grosvenor Hotel, only to be immediately refused entry when stories of her illicit and hedonistic lifestyle surfaced.

The Grosvenor Hotel's 150th anniversary year sees the hotel uncover the glamour and overindulgence of the courtesan's lifestyle by opening the doors of the specially-designed, rococo-themed Suite for the very first time.

Unveiled On February 23rd - the date of Cora's birthday - the 'Courtesan’s Boudoir – The Cora Pearl Suite', has drawn its inspiration from the opulent French interior styling of the late 1800s. Found on the second floor where the most expensive rooms were originally located, the spacious room features a stunning two-foot high oil painting of Cora herself, glass chandeliers, feather trimmed lamps, an overstated dressing table, custom made floor fittings and silver finished French inspired furniture.

The focal point of the Suite is a free standing 'infinity' bath, elevated on a marble tile plinth. The bath tub is a replica of the personally engraved, bronze bath that Cora had specially cast for her in Paris which she famously filled with vintage champagne in which to bathe with her suitors.

Katie Hickman, historian, novelist and author of the bestselling biography 'Courtesans', collaborated with Guoman Hotels to ensure the true spirit of Cora was depicted within the creation of the Suite.

Katie believes the 'Courtesan’s Boudoir' embraces the extravagance of high-class social circles of the time and reflects absolute Victorian glamour. She commented: "I'm very confident Cora would have loved the idea of a Suite created in her honour. It gives her the limelight she truly deserved and brings to the foreground a time in women's history where barriers of class, sexuality and independence were challenged. With all its lavish finishes and close attention to Cora's passions, the Suite certainly represents the hedonistic lifestyle Cora herself enjoyed."

Marking Cora's date of birth and to coincide with The Grosvenor Hotel's 150th anniversary, the hotel is opening the 'Courtesan's Boudoir - The Cora Pearl Suite' suite on 23 February 2012.

Further details and booking information can be found at www.guoman.com/cora_pearl.

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Guoman Hotels in the UK consists of four landmark properties; Charing Cross, The Cumberland, The Royal Horseguards, The Tower and the newest addition, The Grosvenor in Victoria. Whilst each of the luxury hotels in the portfolio is different with its own unique identity and style, each provides the very highest levels of comfort and service to its guests.

Thistle Hotels' Grand Imperial London creates 'good luck' for Chinese New Year

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:44:42 GMT

Thistle hotels' The Grosvenor hotel in London has launched a new signature mandarin orange based cocktail called 'Grand Imperial Lucky 8' at its newest luxury Cantonese restaurant, for those who want to celebrate the Chinese New Year in style.

The idea of the Chinese New Year is to sweep out any bad luck from the old year and clear the way for good luck, and the new Grosvenor Hotel London Restaurant believes the best way to do this is to sip some good fortune at the Grand Imperial.

The 'Lucky 8' cocktail is mixed with Stolichnaya, Ketel one Citron and Limoncello, fresh lemon, Angostura bitters as well as the important 'lucky' mandarin orange and orange juice to give it a refreshing zesty flavour perfect for casting off any bad luck.

Mandarin oranges are the most popular fruit during Chinese New Year and the name 'mandarin' in Cantonese dialect is a homophone of 'luck' or 'fortune'. The number 8 is also considered a lucky number in Chinese culture – the perfect mix to create a lucky cocktail.

Joining London's luxury Asian restaurant scene, the Grand Imperial restaurant - located within the landmark heritage hotel, The Grosvenor Hotel, Victoria, provides a wide selection of Cantonese food to see in the start of 2011, or 4709 as it is on the Chinese new year calendar. The new restaurant specialises in seafood dishes including 'Sautéed Lobster with Superior Stock and Egg White' and 'Deep fried Sea Bass with Pine Nuts' as well as traditional delicacies like 'real' Peking Duck which is served in three courses and special steamed or fried Dim Sum parcels.

Grand Imperial will be the latest addition to restaurateur Rand Cheung's Asian gastro empire; Grand Imperial Restaurant group. Rand Cheung is regarded as a culinary 'legend' by many food connoisseurs across Asia, and the opening means that head chef Leung Chi Keung will now be able to tantalise Londoners with his authentic, delicately prepared, Hong Kong Cantonese menus.

The 'Grand Imperial Lucky 8' cocktail will be available until 18th February 2011.

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About Thistle:
Thistle Hotels is part of Guoman Hotel Management (UK) Limited which operates a number of UK Hotels. Thistle has 33 hotels across the country, many in superb city centre locations, including eleven London Hotels, with a selection of restaurants and a choice of excellent health and leisure facilities, Thistle has something to offer everyone.

Thistle Hotels is the first hotel group to achieve Hospitality Assured accreditation, across its entire UK portfolio. Created by the Institute of Hospitality, the Hospitality Assured standard measures the quality within customer facing businesses across the hospitality, tourism and leisure industry.

Top Articles Tagged with grosvenor-hotel

The Grosvenor Hotel's Reunion bar reveals sweet shoppe themed cocktail menu

Guoman & Thistle Hotels launch guest rewards scheme

Guoman Hotels' The Grosvenor Hotel Victoria uncovers the 'Courtesan's Boudoir'

Thistle Hotels' Grand Imperial London creates 'good luck' for Chinese New Year