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| HOTEL |
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| London,
U.K. |
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Extraordinary - Society
November - 2008 |
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5 Stars
& 6 Stripes
Overall - 'Hotel & Service' |
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The
Ultimate Award:
Seven Stars and
Stripes® |
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| We landed on an early fall morning in foggy London
with the intention of reviewing one of the UK's most renowned boutique hotels,
The Capital. A uniformed driver expected us with a Mercedes E and chauffeured
us safely and quickly right into the heart of London. An impeccably dressed
doorman floored us with his unique welcoming style, took our Rimowa luggage and
invited us, rather discretely, to enter. Check-in at the
charming
front desk was intimate and had a highly personalized feel. |
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| The Capital
Hotel - Arrival: GM Henrik Muehle & Thorsten Buehrmann |
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| Our accommodations appeared at first sight
cozy-classy-elegant and sumptuous. We got to understand why discerning guests
who appreciate a personal atmosphere are known to return time and time again.
The Capital was established in 1971 by its proprietor Professor David Levin, a
visionary of Scottish descent, and until today it is family-owned. With the
most elegant and famous stores of the world, Harrods and Harvey Nichols,
practically on its doorsteps and Hyde Park in close walking distance, this
small hotel has the optimal location. |
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| This grand small hotel, as
well as its destination restaurant 'The Capital', is accustomed to
international celebrities, royalty, heads of state and has developed a solid
reputation for its exclusive guest list.
General
Manager Henrick Muehle and his
staff
are 'old school' in that Mr. Muehle's unwavering attention to details
consistently adds something out of the ordinary. All forty-nine individually
designed accommodations are stately and have a unique character. The luxurious
beds are furnished with hand-made mattresses and dressed with fine Egyptian
cotton. |
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| The
Capital Hotel - Deluxe-Room |
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| The marble baths facilities are compactly laid out and
attention is paid to every detail. Astoundingly there was no outside noise to
be heard from one of the most visited and fascinating cities of the world. I
must admit that I couldn't wait to dine at The Capital's
truly exceptional restaurant. It is said that Executive Chef Eric Chavot has a following that stretches across five continents and as I soon experienced on the effect on my own palate, his cuisine is definitely worth a trip. We closed the 'no regrets' evening at the Capital's bar where we met some interesting people from literally all over the world and sipped on our nightcaps. |
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| The Capital
Hotel - Bar |
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| The concierge had arranged a half-day sightseeing tour
for us with plenty of photo opportunities of London. The highly conversant
gentleman guide, a former actor, allowed us to experience the fascinating city
through his eyes while driving us in a comfortable Range Rover SUV with
elevated seats. We listened to his wealth of stories that brought to life some
of London's most ancient history. We visited the fascinating sites of
Buckingham Palace (changing of guards), Big Ben, Westminster Abby, Tower of
London, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and even a shoemaker's
shop where shoes are still hand-fitted until today. In 1837 Queen Victoria was
presented with a pair of dainty 'elastic' sided boots, the first to be
invented, made by Englishman Joseph Sparkes Hall and they are prominently on
display. |
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| Henrik
Muehle, of German descent, is the General Manager of London's Capital Hotel
and in 2005 was appointed to Assistant Managing Director of the Capital Group,
containing L'Hotel, Le Metro Brasserie, Munch Café, the London Bakery
and Levin Wines. With his hands-on management style, GM Muehle, who lives just
ten minutes from the Capital Hotel, welcomes guests personally every morning
for breakfast from all over Europe, Australia and the US. This
international
team lives up to the highest expectations and highly personalized service
is their mantra. This could mean escorting guests to close-by shopping, or even
jogging with a guests, an honor that head concierge and marathon runner Clive
Smith had been appointed to. |
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by
Edmund Buehrmann & Thorsten Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2008 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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