Kimpton Fitzroy, London

So this is one of my “just pre-Covid” site visits, from when we were free to mooch about hotels, take in the functional details, the historic information and then relax with a cocktail or two after a not-so-taxing hour or so.

I love the Kimpton Fitzroy (which in previous lives has been the Hotel Russell, briefly known as the Principal London and now part of the Kimpton family). The hotel has had a huge refurbishment with a lot of sympathy paid to the original architecture and fittings, some of which I didn’t approve of pre re-launch, but you can’t just remove acres of marble for no good reason!

The lobby and main reception area is pretty much unchanged but it appears softer, warmer and very elegant now. The marble didn’t look imposing now in any way, just, well, as I say, elegant and befitting of this grand old lady.

The building was originally designed in 1898 by architect Charles Fitzroy Doll (who lent his name to the saying “all dolled up”) who also designed the first-class dining room on the Titanic. To mark the projects Doll commissioned two bronze dragons, one for each project. Lucky George still lives in the hotel today on the second floor handrail, his brother being not so lucky and a little bit damper.

Back to the conference and meeting facts.

All aspects of the hotel lead off the main entrance, reception area. Directly in front of you is the Palm Court leading through to the Ballroom.

The Palm Court, by day, light and airy, ideal for a light brunch, lunch or afternoon tea, but also happily turned over as a pre-function area to the newly brightened Ballroom.

As part of an £85m refurbishment the Ballroom has been restored and renovated. Maximum capacity is x 200 for a seated dinner dance, x 160 cabaret style.

The hotel also has an additional 8 meeting rooms on its lower ground floor, some interconnecting to make larger rooms, others naturally flow to offer a reception area to a meeting room and adjacent room for private daytime catering. Room capacities range from 8 to 80 and all rooms have natural daylight.

Click here to view the hotel’s meeting space floor plans.

The hotel has a total of x 334 bedrooms and who can forget Fitz’s!

Fitz’s is a plush, glamorous cocktail den with velour sofa’s and banquettes, snug corners and open lounges. A cocktail on offer to suit every taste below the oversized disco ball.