The Goring - Complete Perfection.
I visited The Goring on the weekend before the second lockdown (31 October). We had been due to attend the hotel back in May for our one year anniversary but due to Covid we ended up moving our stay to my birthday weekend.
I could not think of a more wonderful place to spend a birthday.
The hotel is immaculate, stunning, warm and inviting. Everything from the bannisters to the front desk gleams. The venue is truly impressive, yet with all this luxury there is still a sense of home and comfort.
Having stayed in a few of the London hotspots one of the things that really stood out to me at The Goring was just how personal your stay was.
We were given an extremely warm welcome by the employees. Firstly by Peter who explained some of the covid measures on entry and took our bags well as answered some queries that we had. After checking in we were taken on a tour of the hotel by Samantha who guided us through the reception into the glamourous lounge bar leading into the light and airy garden room with beautiful views of the private garden. The large garden boasts over 100 herbs which are used to create home-made botanical infusions for the hotel's cocktails and to provide the freshest flavours and flowers for the restaurants food.
Following our tour of the hotel, Samantha then took us up to our room to point out how we order any services using QR codes to keep safe during our stay. Our room was huge, so huge in fact I was unable to get a full view picture! It was also filled with home comforts and small luxuries that I'm certain all guests are delighted to receive.
On entering the room I noticed that the hotel had given us a bottle of champagne as well as a plate of freshly baked cookies and biscuits. This was an unexpected and very kind gesture which was greatly appreciated. The biscuits were fresh that day and tasted like they had been made in heavens kitchen, the champagne was a brand I have not had before. It was light, crisp and had the perfect amount of bubbles! I will certainly look into purchasing a few bottles for the Christmas period. I must also mention the gift of our little Goring Sheep, another personal touch and a wonderful reminder of the fun history of the hotel.
The Lounge is the heart of the hotel. Gorgeous crystal chandeliers hang from the ceilings and the room is engulfed in warm and subtle lighting. Upon entering the lounge we were taken to a table by Zoe. She was extremely helpful when it came down to deciding which wines we should have but also recommended the 'Queen Victoria Fizz' cocktail which swiftly became a favourite for me.
After a day of walking we headed up to our room to get ready as we had our dinner booked in the Michelin star restaurant that evening. This is the best meal I think I have ever eaten.
To start I had cep risotto of aged Acquerello rice, confit egg yolk and lardo. I was completely shocked at just how amazing this dish was. To some it may not seem like the most beautiful dish, however the taste was out of this world. My partner upon trying some had major food envy. This is a dish that I have never tried before but can say without hesitation that I would most certain have it again. The risotto was the perfect consistency and the flavours complimented each other perfectly.
For main course we decided on Red Horn beef Wellington for two with king oyster mushroom and braised short rib. WOW, WOW and WOW! The beef was like butter, so soft and the perfect shade of pink, it literally melted in my mouth. The short rib was extremely tender and rich in beefy flavours. We had a side of spinach and greens which were perfectly seasoned.
Lastly, for dessert I ordered the milk and dark chocolate marquise with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream the sweetness of the white chocolate combined with the salt from the caramel was a dream! We were extremely surprised to also receive a birthday cake and an anniversary cake. We of course ate all three which were made with care and perfection. Come 10pm I was rolling out of the dining room to the lift to get back to our room.
After our dining experience here it will be extremely hard for many places to match up. I was completely blown away with the decor, service, chefs and phenomenal food. It is easy to see why they have their Michelin star.
Check out at the hotel is not until 12pm. Therefore we had the chance to have a very lazy morning with room service breakfast brought up to us at 10am. We decided on English breakfast tea, fresh orange juice, eggs benedict and pancakes with streaky bacon and maple syrup. There is something wonderful about lounging around in your room in your hotel robe, watching the world go by and having a stunning breakfast. My pancakes were so fluffy and light, I felt like I was eating clouds!
I was hoping that the second lockdown would happen quicker and that I would be stuck in the hotel for 4 weeks...I wish! I can confirm without hesitation that The Goring is now a new favourite spot of mine and I cannot wait to try their award winning afternoon tea.
I would highly recommend the hotel and most certainly the restaurant for those looking for luxury, comfort, top service and outstanding food.
A huge thank you to all of the employees at The Goring who made our stay so special and memorable, especially Peter, Samantha and Zoe. We will be back for our fix of luxury as soon as the pandemic allows.
If you would like more information on The Goring you can access their website here.