aAt 74 years old, long-distance relationships were new territory for me. Admittedly, it’s easier now that I’ve moved back to the UK from southern Spain. But he lives and works in his home county and I was camping at a friend’s house in Brighton trying to buy a house.
We decided to meet in London for a “romantic” weekend. Romantic is a word that strikes fear into my heart at the best of times, with the flirty dresses and heels, the sleazy waiter hovering over me with a suggestively large pepper grinder, and the “enjoy every moment” message. Contains connotations such as pressure. I’m happiest wearing jeans and Blundstones, no makeup, hanging out in a muddy field with a few dogs.
I I didn’t know where to stay. My previous London hotel experiences include the Savoy with my friend Roxy Music in the 1970s, the Portobello Hotel when I worked for the label during my Fiorucci days, and the Strand Palace 10 years ago. I once got in touch with a Canadian cowboy.
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Covent Garden was once best known for its fruit and vegetable market
Alamy
A friend recommended the Covent Garden Hotel on Monmouth Street, where we stayed on our honeymoon. He and his partner had fun and romantic times there and are still together. Any place that was good enough for him was good enough for me.
I have known Covent Garden for a long time, before it became the shopping hub and entertainment destination it is today. My first job after leaving university in the 1970s was in the fashion department of Honey Magazine on Southampton Street. On my way to work, I was walking down the slippery cobblestone alley of a noisy fruit and vegetable market when a vendor threw an apple at me. Famous choreographer Arlene Phillips offered to teach me jazz dancing at the Dance Center on Floral Street, and on weekends we did roller discos at Jubilee Hall. In the 1990s, I had a fashion showroom on the same Monmouth Street location.
I booked the loft suite, which was the nicest room available. It turned out to be the very room my friend and his new husband were staying in, and then we got down to some serious planning.
Guest suite at Covent Garden Hotel
Romantic means proper preparation to me. In addition to bringing your travel tickets and trusty Trip suitcase, don’t forget to scrub your gloves in the shower, moisturize your entire body, shave your legs, get a pedicure, and get a haircut. . time. Did you need to buy new underwear? Was it a trip to M&S or a trip to the wild coast in a more risqué location? Cold weather forecast, but was black Uniqlo Heattech romantic? Unfortunately not. Romantic meant two people sharing a bed in one room, one of whom was a man she barely knew. For the past 8 years, I have only shared my bed with my daughter. Romantic means stress.
• British romantic city breaks
On the appointed day, before heading to the hotel, we met my daughter at Quo Vadis in Soho for what we called a “chat lunch”. I call it Three Delicious Her Courses and Lots of Dutch Courage, served on a red leather banquette. He and I toddled through the darkness, in a haze of genuine feelings and good intentions, to survive the hustle and bustle of a busy London weekend afternoon.
Luxurious dining room at Quo Vadis in Soho
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As soon as I saw the hotel, I knew I had made the right decision. Glowing brightly in the darkness, the warm red bricks, a parade of potted olive trees, delicate cafe tables and chairs, and striped awnings indicate a former French hospital in 1890. , and the front adorned with an attractively waving Union Jack flag. It was a very welcoming destination for two over-excited out-of-towners.
Upon entering the lobby, we felt like we had been specially invited to a private home party in a particularly beautiful and well-heated English stately home. What a treat!
With wood paneling and mirrored cladding, dramatic floral embroidery and needlepoint floor-length curtains, the hotel showcases the great interior design skills and flair of the hotel’s co-founder and creative director, Kit Kemp. It was perfect for. Her delight in detail, her celebration of traditional craftsmanship, and her love of color, incorporating flora and fauna motifs, were immediately evident. Her homemade baked goods provided at check-in also didn’t go amiss.
Covent Garden Hotel ground floor drawing room and library
Grinning like a couple of lottery winners, we toured the traditionally decorated and very cozy ground floor drawing room and library. Both had fireplaces, reclaimed wood paneling, dog paintings, and plush sofas and armchairs with bright upholstery. Kemp fabric — but what we really wanted to see was our room.
Oh, I’m so happy! To our delight, we found handmade chocolates in elaborate little boxes, a room-sized (not very small) coriander and bergamot scented candle, and a delicious room spray. These are all from Kemp’s Rick Rack series. No wonder the hotel smells so good. No scary plugins here. This attention to detail and desire to make guests feel at home is what makes this hotel so special. Plus, the big, fat, own-brand toiletries in the bathroom, which you can take home with you, aren’t tied to the wall.
Covent Garden Hotel’s fully stocked bar and dining area
Simon Brown Photography
Also, we had two floors. Downstairs was the living room, dining area and shower room. Bedroom and bathroom upstairs. Plus, there are mini (or rather maxi) bars downstairs and upstairs, so your bottle of fizz is never far away. And there are two baths! Anyone in the early stages of a relationship will understand the fear that comes not only with sharing a bed with a new partner, but also with cleansing one’s body. “Do you snore?” That’s another thing, but having a lock to your own bathroom is really relaxing. Of course, the shower and bathtub were large enough if you wanted to share. The room was a lush oasis, with walls painted with mythical landscapes of fruiting trees and exotic birds. The huge bed had the most beautiful and large headboard I had ever seen, embroidered with lush, jewel-colored flowers. Leaning against it, looking through the arched windows at the slate-tiled roofs of Covent Garden, I felt as if I were floating on a cloud.
London has many tourist attractions
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Our hotel is perfectly located for visiting London’s best theatres, galleries, shops and restaurants. So did we go to any of them? No, I had room service in bed. Fish and chips for me, chicken Caesar for my teacher, and a bottle of Porto Nova Prosecco. We watched TV and managed to waddled downstairs to the Brasserie Max bar, toasted our good fortune with a couple of big Jamesons, and spotted Judi Dench. Why go out of your way when you can have so much fun staying indoors?
My friend was right. The Covent Garden Hotel was the perfect place to meet a new man in my life and a new lover. Warm and welcoming, but never patronizing. We felt relaxed and “at home” and were free to enjoy each other’s company. That was really this whole idea. And I was so happy to get a pedicure!
Elaine Kingett was the guest. Covent Garden Hotel (firmdalehotels.com), B&B doubles from £654. For more information about Kit Kemp and RikRak, visit kitkemp.com. Elaine Quinjet goes on writing holiday in Andalusia (write-it-down.co.uk/spain)
What is the most romantic hotel in London? Let us know in the comments below