5 are heading to the hospitality offering to look at its over 100 year history…
The Savoy Hotel in London is the capital’s very first purpose-built luxury hotel; when it opened, nearly 140 years ago, it was a ground breaker. It was the first hotel in London to have electric lighting and ensuite bathrooms, as well as lifts to whisk guests to the upper floors.
Throughout its history, the hardworking staff were at the beck and call of the rich and famous, including Hollywood screen siren, Marylin Monroe who stayed in the Presidential Suite and had specially chosen staff to cater to her every need, and Princess Diana, who celebrated her thirtieth birthday there. But it wasn’t the 15,000 balloons at Diana’s party that made the headlines, it was the fact that she spent her special day without the then Prince Charles.
Next week the 5 programme uncovers the history of the cutting-edge hotel that was the brainchild of theatre impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, who had made his money promoting Gilbert and Sullivan operas.
The Savoy also transformed how we eat out, thanks to its legendry French head chef, Auguste Escoffier who brought cooking flair to London, introducing new ingredients and even naming dishes after celebrity guests, like Peach Melba, named after opera singer, Dame Nellie Melba.
Over the years, famous faces such as Frank Sinatra, Winston Churchill and Vivien Leigh have dined in the hotel’s famous Grill Restaurant and sipped drinks in the legendary American Bar. And the French painter, Claude Monet painted some of his most famous works from his balcony overlooking the river Thames, fuelled by two cooked English breakfasts every day. Today, if you have a few grand for the night, you can stay in his suite and attempt your own version of a Monet painting.
The Savoy: Grand Hotels Through Time, Thursday, 12th June at 9 pm on 5
