With a history dating back to 1892, The Gore London – Starhotels Collezione has hosted some iconic stars over the years, as well as some unforgettable parties (more on that later). This iconic beacon of British hospitality has a magnificent story to tell in every room. In our latest hotel review, we got to visit this fabulously quintessential accommodation in the heart of Kensington to explore its history and uniqueness to uncover what makes this place so enchanting.
History
The Gore was originally built as a serviced residence for visitors to London’s 1851 Great Exhibition. Under the patronage of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, it welcomed guests who wanted to stay in the heart of “the most fashionable area of the city”, in the houses at 189 and 190 Queen’s Gate, which hosts The Gore today.
Queen’s Gate Mansions were a hotel in all but name, with liveried staff, horse-drawn carriages and a hydraulic lift – all considerable luxuries for the time. It built up a regular clientele over the years, including plenty of leading names from the artistic scene of the period, who found a tranquil refuge at The Gore where they could feel inspired.
From antique carved beds in the rooms to original artworks, each of the six floors (yes, six floors!) is a treasure trove of period details and hand-picked pieces. There’s original wooden panelling throughout setting the tone, as well as lavish furnishings extenuating the hotel’s personality. And yet, as historical, classy and period drama as The Gore is, at its core beats a rebellious rock’n’roll spirit…
Icons
The Gore certainly does have a distinctive rock’n’roll vibe. Bar 190 is best known as the location for the launch and photoshoot for The Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet, and the decor pays tribute to this iconic event. The young musicians in their prime were regulars of the bar, which at the time already buzzed with nightlife, and chose to host the album’s launch party right here because of its ideal location in the city centre and its informal yet glamorous atmosphere. Amazing photos from this event hang on the wall of the bar, while the shoot – which took place downstairs – featured a couch that the band were all seated on. Incredibly, the very same couch can still be found downstairs!
Discover the luxury of yesteryear at The Gore by immersing yourself in the same atmosphere that has attracted many celebrities, famous artists and aristocrats over the years, including Judy Garland, André Simon, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Tony Hancock, Lord Miles and Dame Nellie Melba.
Today, The Gore has its own celebrity of sorts working behind the scenes…
190 Queen’s Gate
The Gore has welcomed ‘Former National Chef of the Year’ and TV personality, Frederick Forster to take on the role of Head Chef of the hotel’s F&B outlets including the notable 190 Queen’s Gate Restaurant. Frederick is monumentally experienced, having worked with kitchen heavyweights such as Raymond Blanc, Gordon Ramsay, Thomas Keller and Pierre Gagnaire. Frederick’s brought his unique style and training in both classic and modern cuisine, and launched a highly impressive new menu. Alongside the all day offering and breakfast menu is a pre-theatre dinner, with some very enjoyable dishes.
The star of this menu, undoubtedly, is the rump of beef. As well as being perfectly cooked and seasoned, it’s diced expertly and presented wonderfully. Full of rich flavour, the friendly restaurant team is also on hand to make wine recommendations and more.
Charming scenes and champion food – the breakfast is also superb here – Frederick is a major coup for The Gore.
Suite Life
The Gore boasts some of the best suites in the area – hands down. They’re full of personality and stories, none more so than the very room we stayed in – the Judy Garland suite.
This magnificent room features the famous film star’s own bed! This was reportedly sent from Hollywood and donated to the hotel to show her gratitude after a particularly long stay, and is decorated with silk wallpaper that perfectly compliments the gilded bed frame. The room, where the Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz are still kept, is a shrine to Garland’s unbeatable talent and to the fantastic movie for which she won the Oscar.
The bathroom, meanwhile, features double marble basins and tiles hand-painted in the style of the ancient Roman baths. Sink back and have a good soak post-meal, before donning the uber soft bathrobe and lying on the famous bed for a peaceful night’s rest dreaming of stars and Hollywood and rock’n’roll…
Charm
The hotel oozes charm, which lends itself brilliantly to the team who run it. All of them, from reception to the bar staff, from Frederick himself to his own team, all of them are approachable, so friendly and… well… charming! There’s no better word to describe The Gore and everything that encompasses it. This reviewer was certainly won over by it and will return, soon hopefully.
For more information visit The Gore London – Starhotels Collezione
