In London's lap of luxury

GO FEEDBACK: ALANNA GALLAGHERescapes to a five-star hotel where thoughts of the recession have been banished

THE CORINTHIA, a newly opened five-star hotel in London, offers fat wallets a place to leave the recession behind.

Tastefully designed, the Victorian building spent 50 years as the prestigious Hotel Metropole before it was taken over by the government in 1936 and used as Ministry of Defence (MOD) offices. During the second World War it was used by MI9, an organisation which coordinated a large number of prisoner of war escapes across Europe.

And it’s that great sense of escape that prevails, from the minute you cross the threshold of this grande dame establishment.

For Irish visitors, a stay here is a covert operation that is best not discussed at dinner parties back home. It is old-school indulgence from the afternoon tea served in the lobby lounge under a Baccarat Full Moon chandelier to the works of art served up as cocktails in the shagreen-lined walls in the Bassoon, the hotel bar.

The Harrod’s concession in the foyer hints at the calibre of client it’s chasing. This is a playground for the high net worth individual, who is free from the day-to-day dirge of the downturn and can indulge every sense – except common sense perhaps.

The hotel is a byword for luxe. Its Espa Life spa is the real scene stealer. This vast pampering palace has 3,330sq m of satisfaction set over four floors.

On the treatment floor, each white marble clad room is oval in shape, creating a Zen sense of relaxation. Best of all there is no hard sell on products.

The thermal floor is free to guests and has direct lift access meaning you can shuffle down there in your robe. There’s a steam room, a vitality pool with steel bar seating for jet massage, and a stainless steel-lined swimming pool. The glass walled amphitheatre style sauna banishes any sense of claustrophobia.

The soft touches here make all the difference. Two gas-lit flame fires bookend the vitality pool and create a cocooning sense of warmth. You can lie on heated loungers set in front of one of the fires.

The treatment price list is on a par with five-star spas. An “Urban Escape” package includes a facial as well as a hand and foot massage with hot stones. It costs £97 (€111). An “Instant Radiance” offer includes a facial, a manicure with Shellac polish that should last a fortnight and an eyelash tint and eyebrow shape. This costs £175 (€200).

The rooms are large by London standards, 45sq m and big enough to want to spend time in, which is something you’ll feel the need to do if you’re investing in a luxury break.

If it’s late afternoon you may come back to a turned-down bed complete with sea salt caramels by William Curley, made with water rather than milk or cream so, in theory, less fattening.

The beds are by Hypnos, the only bed manufacturer to actively supply the British royal family and the royal household. And they are exceptionally comfortable. They will give you a night’s sleep worthy of a king or queen.

There’s a TV in the bath should you want to continue the sybaritic spoiling and there are more Espa products to try. An especially nice touch is the exfoliating salt rub by the bath.

Residents have two dining options. Massimo, an upscale brasserie designed by London-based Irish architect David Collins’ David Collins Studio. It has striking globe lighting and convict stripe clad pillars and offers a Mediterranean menu as well as an oyster bar – just what you need to get into the indulgent mood. Make sure to sit somewhere right at the back facing inwards, so that you can gawp at the grandeur of the room.

The second option, the Northall, is housed in an intricately corniced room and has views across London’s Embankment. The lunch menu is well priced, with two courses for £18 (€20.60) and three for £22.50 (€25.75). This is also where breakfast is served from 6am to 10.30am.

Being a paid-up member of the Paddy Last club, this writer was five minutes late and had to make do with breakfasting in the lobby, which doesn’t chime with the same sense of theatre.

All in all the Corinthia is incredibly well considered. The staff intuitively know if you want to be bothered or not – the real point of difference between five-star training and training that calls itself five-star.

Room prices are eye-watering expensive though, enough to have even a la carte Catholics running to the confessional. An executive room costs from £399 (€457) for bed and breakfast per night throughout the month of August.

There are some special offers, including the “Family Beat the Heat” package – buy one room and get a second free, valid until September 5th. Suites, boasting some of the best views of London’s skyline, are due to open in September and will cost £3,000 (€3,434) per night. Day spa rates cost from £250 (€286).

Is it worth it? Is a bed ever worth this kind of money? But as a special anniversary or birthday present it will delight. There is no restriction on check-in or out times, so maximise your 24-hour stay by getting there early and staying late.

corinthia.com