Park Life

General Manager, Stuart Bowery, and longstanding friend of Grosvenor House, Gyles Brandreth turn back the pages of the hotel’s past. Together, they revisit profound moments and personal memories that make up Grosvenor House’s illustrious 95-year history as Park Lane’s first hotel.

Grosvenor House has long been favoured by royalty, hosting a celebratory Coronation Ball for King George VI in 1937 and the Coronation Year Ladies' Night for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 to grand occasions in the Great Room including Queen Charlotte’s debutante balls and the Royal Caledonian Ball. In celebration of the Coronation year, this episode takes a deep dive into the hotel’s royal connections over the past 90 years, continuing the rich legacy to this day.

How does a hotel of Grosvenor House’s scale and grandeur operate day to day? Hear from those at the very heartbeat of a fascinating 24-hour operation, from hotel deliveries and fresh floral arrangements in the early hours of the morning, to delivering decadent breakfasts and Afternoon Tea, the Grosvenor House wheels never stop turning.

As day turns to night, Grosvenor House comes alive with thousands of people drinking, dining and socialising across its 496 rooms, suites, Great Room, ballroom, restaurants and bars. This episode shares how the hotel delivers five-star service to its guests, from BAFTA and Pride of Britain Award dinners to vintage Bourbon nightcaps and cocktails in the Red Bar.

Grosvenor House was designed and built with the vantage point of Hyde Park as inspiration. The hotel’s most recent renovation conveys a refined British elegance and décor based on neighbouring Hyde Park, seasonal colours and leaf patterns. There is even a bespoke Grosvenor House rose garden growing in Hyde Park, cementing the hotel’s life-long connection to it.

“A hotel as modern as tomorrow, still with time for yesterday.” That’s how Gyles Brandreth describes the home of some of the grandest of events and society gatherings for royalty, dignitaries and celebrities at Grosvenor House. From Barack Obama and Frank Sinatra to a young Queen Elizabeth learning to ice skate in the Great Room, Gyles revisits some of the greatest of hotel gatherings over the last 90 years.

Grosvenor House’s undeniable link with sport and recreation began in 1934 when the ‘Grosvenor House’ De Havilland Comet, flown by Arthur Octavius “Lucky” Edwards, who both built the hotel and flew the aircraft, won the London to Melbourne Air Race. Since then, Grosvenor House has hosted sporting legends in boxing, football and American football to name just a few. In this episode, Dame Kelly Holmes and Harry Redknapp explain why Grosvenor House is their home away from home and will be forever synonymous with sporting greats.

Grosvenor House’s relationship with the United States began before the hotel was built and remains as strong today. Arthur Octavius Edwards designed the hotel for the US market and even had a sales office on Fifth Avenue to sell bedrooms. Today, half of Grosvenor House’s guests each year are from the USA and the hotel restaurant, JW Steakhouse is an American steakhouse (with a world-famous cheesecake). In this episode. journalist, writer and broadcaster from Chicago, Karen Krizanovich, explains why Grosvenor House is so special to her and her fellow Americans.

There are few in the entertainment industry who haven’t wined, dined and danced at Grosvenor House. Gyles Brandreth has spent decades enjoying events at Park Lane’s most famous hotel, and in this episode shares stories and anecdotes from some of the most glamorous occasions. From the Foyles literary lunch to the Ivor Novello Awards, allow Gyles to share some of the glitz and glamour.

In this episode, Richard Corrigan talks to record producer and broadcaster, Tris Penna. From the rural landscapes of County Meath to a collection of eminent restaurants including Corrigan’s Mayfair at Grosvenor House, Richard’s distinctive style holds ingredient-led simplicity at its core and continues to be received with acclaim. Richard discusses his Irish roots and family ethos, famous soda breads and how he combines modern luxury dining with earthy, country cooking.